Saturday, September 29

Just a few pictures to get you acquainted with our surroundings. We have the Caesar Park hotel room, Peace Park, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial and surrounding garden.

We started the day with a wonderful breakfast that could be likened to an American brunch buffet. They offered Western items such as cereal, pastries, fruit, omelettes, bacon and eggs. But we also got to experiment with sweetened black beans, rice pouridge, duck, spicey cabbage, beef noodles, cooked garlic cherry tomatoes, a white fruit with black seeds (??), and others. This was a lot of fun!

After breakfast we exchanged currency at the hotel lobby. Then we just started walking toward the CKS Memorial and took in all the sights and sounds and smells of Taipei. Near our hotel there are many food stalls/stores. They are actually part of the buildings but the store fronts are open - no glass windows or front wall. We stopped at Peace Park and found a kids' playground that will come in handy once Alex joins us. The park was beautiful and clean. We walked another 10 minutes to the memorial and took many photos. Then we rested near the pond with the white bridge. On our walk back to the hotel we stopped at the Taiwan Handicraft Mart. This is a 3 story building that sells any and all things made in Taiwan. We saw jewelry, paintings, wood carvings, pottery, sculptures, etc. Chris picked out a set of chopsticks with resting trays. This can be our new family tradition for when we eat chinese food.

Once we were within a block of our hotel we found a Dunkin Donuts. Nathan(ds) would be so happy! We could move to Taiwan and he wouldn't have to give up his favorite snack. There are also many 7/11's, Starbucks, and McDonalds.

The people here are very friendly and polite. The maps are easy to follow and the people generally know enough English to help us with our questions. I really wish I knew more Mandarin. My goal for tomorrow is to at least speak in Madarin for the basics (hello, thank you, please).

Zai jian