Trip to Metro...

Today it finally stopped raining and Babes and I took the *gasp* bus to Metro.  I know what you are thinking, what's the big deal, she took a bus.  But if you knew me, you would know that I don't like buses.  Maybe it's some left over Orange County prejudice against public transportation, but I'm not a fan of buses.  Subways and trains, love em?  Buses... eh not so much.  Maybe it's because there are almost never good bus maps, so I always feel like I could end up just about anywhere.  Especially in China, the buses are usually crowded and the maps are in Chinese (I might speak Chinese, but I don't read it well). Who knows where the bus will leave me. 

BUT!  Today I gathered myself together, searched google maps and came up with a plan.  (Did you know Google maps will give you public transit too?  I discovered this in Taiwan, but just discovered that it works on the mainland now too) 

Metro is in Wuchang which is across the Yangtze river from us.  We actually got on the bus and got there without any problems at all. 

The inside of Metro is very similar to the one in Chengdu, except that they have a HUGE dairy department (I didn't take any pictures of the inside, I always feel silly taking pictures inside stores, I know I should do it, but.....) Unlike any of the rest of the stores here I was actually able to find Cheese in Metro! 

In Hankou so far I've only been able to find the plastic wrapped cheese food slices (far left), which are fine-sometimes, but I prefer actual cheese, and while this cheese isn't super it's better than nothing (2 years without cheese would have been hardship indeed). 
After the bus ride home, Babes and I stopped for bing (think Chinese burrito) at this place around the corner from us. 

I also didn't get any pictures of the bing being made, mostly because my hands were full and I was too hungry.  I will stop by there again and I promise I will get pictures. 

on the street

I'm always amazed by the things you can buy on the street in china. 

Gotta love it

Babes and I went out for an impromptu lunch downtown at Cafe Caramel. It was great Babes and I shared lunch since I didn't bring food for her (you know impromptu) and she was actually very good throughout the whole lunch. The other ladies were very impressed with her careful eating skills, and I have to admit Babes put on her best "I'm the cutest" act so, of course, everyone was charmed. On our way out to catch a cab, I got lost (as I always do downtown) while I looked for the perfect place to catch a cab. I usually try to get a cab going in the right direction so I don't have to sit through any death defying car maneuvers but I always get turned around downtown and end up wandering around far longer than necessary. While we were wandering we passed the Aladdin toy store which I always drive by, but parking is a nightmare so I never stop in. It always looks so happy with the bikes and stuffed animals in the window. Well I walked in today and yes the toys are nice (same stuff they have at other toy stores here) but the sales people were watching something questionable on TV. Granted the store was empty, and it was the middle of the day during the week. But I was there and in the three minutes I was in the store I saw a naked woman murdered. Now I understand that working in a store is boring and watching TV helps to pass the time, but naked woman murders? To make matters worse neither person even bothered to look up to find out if I needed anything. It makes me miss the US.

Picky

*SIGH* we are trying to buy a carpet. I hate when we are trying to make a major purchase because we can never seem to agree on anything. And if we do agree we can never make the jump into a purchase.... Mainly because of me. I am so fickle that I really want to LOVE something before I buy it. I don't generally like carpets, so I'm terrified that we are going to buy something, take it home, and I'm going to hate it after two days. But I know we need to buckle down because we're running out of time, and if we don't buy a carpet we won't have anything to remind us of Azerbaijan.