We recovered enough to be able to head take our flight this morning. I was nervous about how packed the airport would be because today is China’s National Day and kicks off a week of vacation for the entire country. An estimated 700 million people travel this week, so it’s like Thanksgiving on steroids.

In the end it was all fine and we got right through. The flight was just over an hour and as we were coming in to land the landscape was very different than anywhere we have visited so far. We could see large mountains and lots of lush green small farms.

Our hotel generously sent a driver to pick us up. She dropped us off at the edge of the old town and handed us over to a man who helped us with our bags up into the windy streets of the ancient town. It was raining and very picturesque.

We are staying in a small, very old inn in the center of the old city.

Once we settled in and drew every single Disney princess, we headed out to explore.

We walked into the central square and through the meandering streets. We stopped for snacks as we went. Millie was hungry but couldn’t see any food she wanted. Finally we saw a cart selling pizza but it turned out to be durian pizza. Instead we got her a big bowl of cut fruit and some fried chicken.

It is hard to tell what decorations are for the holiday and which are always here, but either way it felt like the old city was all dressed up. Lots of China flags, lanterns, and fresh flowers lined the streets.

There were people out everywhere dressed up in traditional outfits. Culturally it feels very different here than the last cities we visited in China. The traditional outfits are completely different and people’s features are different. Considering how far west we are, this makes sense.

We walked on to a pretty park. Millie was in a grumpy mood and made a big show of not wanting to walk. She probably got asked about 6 times today if she would take a photo with people. Sweet young girls will come up to me and show me their phone, which usually says “your daughter is so cute, can I take her picture?” She grumpily says “no!” every time and I try to smile and do my best “sorry!” shrug each time to soften the blow.

We stopped to have some tea. There was a woman near by singing opera into a mic and after every song she stopped and did what I colloquially call “hocking a loogie”. This amplified in the mic. She did it so many times and each time it got funnier to us. We kept doing impressions of it all evening and I know it’s going to be a long lasting family inside joke.

We walked back as the sun was setting. By now the streets were much busier, and loud. There is live music in every restaurant, all blaring out and competing with each other. You can see here the second floors were all just bands.

There were a few reggae bars which made me laugh because they seemed so out of place. Perhaps there is a big unexpected reggae subculture here.

We found a small basement bar with an extensive European beer selection. We each ordered a Chimay. Nick used to work for this brewery so when we drink them on occasion it kicks off major nostalgia. We ate popcorn and drew while we waited for nightfall. It was cozy and quiet and perfect.

As we walked back toward the hotel, things had really picked up. There were people everywhere. The central square had a bonfire and traditional dancing.

It was festive and fun, but we were tired. So we wove our way through the old streets and back into our quiet little inn.