Yellow Crane Tower Tour

I wasn't able to post last night.  We were having trouble getting Hope to sleep.  No problems the first few nights, but then she was simply exhausted, and not feeling well.  Her fever had subsided by last night, but she's been digging her finger into her ears, so maybe they're bothering her.  I held her and tried to lay her down in her crib after she closed her eyes, but she would wake up and cry, so I held her in the bed, etc.  Finally, after an hour or so of repeated attempts, I laid her down and she went to sleep.

Anyway, the day started with a trip to the Yellow Crane Tower.  It's a tower that has been built and re-built many times since 223 A.D.  Most recently, it was destroyed by fire in 1884, and not rebuilt again until 1981.  It's a beautiful spot only 10 minutes or so from the hotel, and has great views of the three cities that make up Wuhan.  It's a very popular tourist destination.

Unfortunately, it was so darn hot and humid that we just could not enjoy ourselves.  I was literally dripping even before we climbed the first step.  We couldn't use the elevator, because it's reserved for "...only the visitors older than 70, or those with lower limbs disabled", according to the sign.  They sold wash cloths at one of the gift shop counters, which I bought.  I needed a full-size towel, though.  Hope was a trooper, and Jen and I took turns carrying her.  Not a single fuss, even though she was sweating just as much as I was. 

At one point, we caught someone taking a picture of us.  Jen caught his eye and smiled, and he snapped another of her.  We're celebrities here!  

We managed to take a few good pictures ourselves, but we were relieved to head back to the van, and the hotel.  

We spent the rest of the day in the room.  We gave Hope her second bath.  This time, she really enjoyed it, and was splashing and having fun (the first bath, the day before, she wouldn't even sit down).  She continues to prefer me, and will only let me comfort her.  She let's Jen carry her when we are outside of the room, but once inside, it's a different story.  I'm afraid to walk into the bathroom, where Hope can't see me, because if she notices that I'm gone, she will cry.  This is very hard on Jennifer, as you can imagine.

I probably will not post tonight.  Our flight doesn't leave until close to 7:00 PM, so by time we get to our hotel, get us situated, and Hope to sleep, it will be late.  So until next time...

The tower from a distance

A view from one of the levels of the tower

Beautiful ceiling

Family photo.  Daddy's a dripping mess.

She knows when her picture is being taken.

View of the Yangtze river, and one of the three cities beyond.

Rooftops of homes adjacent to the tower.