We spent the majority of the day at our new apartment. The view today was the best ever!!! We devised a rating system to describe the view. Today was a 3 bridge + day. On really foggy days we can not see any bridges and on very clear days we can see 3 bridges. Today we could see all three bridges and beyond. The river was traffic free most of the morning and then at about 1:00 in the afternoon "rush hour" started. We could not believe how many ships suddenly appeared. All of them full of gravel and other cargo. Most of them going up stream and it looked like a ship parade. We are easily entertained these days and spent many hours watching the river.

Decorations are appearing all over the city in honor of Chinese New Year. On Tuesday I will learn more about the significance of these decorations. The Community Center is offering a class to explain the traditions of the New Year.

Tonight we found a restaurant that offered American style food.....AND....it actually tasted like American food. I have never enjoyed a cup of vegetable soup more in my life. Food is a weird thing.....it seems like such an insignificant thing......and yet it defines our culture. When this changes and you are introduced to new textures and spices you recognize just how unique our tastes really are. I used to think of American food as a hodge podge mixture of many cultures but we definitely have our own "flavor".

The hotel that we are staying at offers an international breakfast every morning. It is so interesting to watch what people have for breakfast. Many people here eat Congee. This is a hot cereal that looks like soupy goopy rice. They do not put brown sugar or raisins in this like we would in oatmeal. Instead they add small pieces of bread, peanuts, relish, and many other condiments that I do not recognize. I have to say that there is no way I could eat that for breakfast. Give me pancakes with syrup and I am happy!!! :)