Xi'An
It's been a while since we updated our travel diary... but don't worry, we're working for you! What kept us from writing was the long journey we tackled from Beijing, China: Xi'An.
We had left off at the Great Wall... the next day (11/10/2004) it was the turn of the Summer Palace, the emperor's summer residence. Built around a large lake, full of beautiful gardens and minor temples. Obviously enormous, so much so that it took us more than half a day to visit it. In the evening we went out with good old Luca, who suggested the usual top-notch little dinner.
The following morning we spent on a quick visit to an exhibition on the future urban developments of the city of Beijing... incredible what they're planning for the 2008 Olympics. A very interesting exhibition, a shame about the language, which didn't allow us to fully understand it!
In the afternoon we had ourselves taken to Beijing West Station to catch the train (ticket cost 28.5 euros). More than a station, it gave the impression of being in an airport: intersecting roads, strict checks at the entrance (metal detector), and a waiting room packed with people. Finally on the train, we settled into the sleeper berths, the only place where you could sit. We shared the available beds with a nice Chinese family and, despite the language barrier, we communicated, I'd say, perfectly. Total journey time 13 hours for a good 900 km, certainly not lightning fast.
New city, same feelings, an initial sense of bewilderment immediately soothed by the presence of our new friend Lee (like the famous jeans brand). Incredible, he speaks English. He was waiting impatiently with the classic welcome sign bearing our surnames, and his presence there was the result of the existing collaboration between the province of Shaanxi and the province of Treviso. After settling into the hotel, thanks to the "dear" flower-children-model van skillfully driven by a Charles Bronson look-alike, we set off to discover the city, visiting the Pagoda, the history museum, and the very interesting Islamic quarter. At 4 pm an informal appointment with Mr. Wang and Mrs. Lei ChengAi for a nice exchange of pennants and information about the current situation of the Chinese province and the interest in continuing the relationship begun back in 1987 with Treviso.
In the evening, an institutional dinner in classic Chinese style. Typical dishes and industrial quantities; it was hard to say what they were, even they didn't know; in particular we tried fish skin, sea flowers immersed in a sweet tomato-based condensation, a very thick soup that they were crazy about and that we found inedible, a rice liquor that would knock you out just by smelling it, and much more. Luckily, the vast range of dishes allowed us to find something we liked; a final but not negligible note: everything was kindly offered by the province of Shaanxi.
Let's finally come to today, a day entirely planned down to the smallest detail by Mr. Wang, who had carefully instructed our personal driver, the night vigilante Charles. He was waiting for us in the van at 9 to take us to the terracotta army, and we, as good Italians, showed up there punctually at 9:52, and then we complain. First stop: the emperor's thermal baths, the problem being that they weren't part of our requests (4 euros per person, are you kidding me!!!!). It may seem like little, but in the survival battle we're fighting, it's fundamental. Second stop: our request granted, the terracotta army. Prohibitive entrance fee (9 euros per person), a price never paid so far for any monument. A majestic work nonetheless, but our expectations compared to the entrance cost were not completely satisfied.
Good old Charles led us to a typical local restaurant (terrified by its elegant appearance and therefore by the possible rip-off) where we were able to taste (term suggested by Andrea) dishes that we were supposed to cook ourselves on a special little stove containing a more or less spicy sauce. Delicious!!!
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