Xi'an
We flew here yesterday and left those wonderful clear skies behind and our friend Michael.  He turned us over to adorable Wendi and she took is straight to a delicious dumpling dinner and then out into a really colorful street market. Unfortunately no camera but I shall do my best.  Stalls selling the Chinese version of turkey legs, pigs feet deep fat fried and large bone joints with all that greasy good meat.  Looked great.  Candy was being made  out of bean paste and fruit juice (like nougat) that is poured on a flat pan and then two huge men with giant mallets crush nuts into it and the beating process is quite a show.  Sopa noodle shops have kettles of boiling water 4 feet across and barbecue places with flames shooting into the shop.  The walls are black.
We have a very luxurious hotel here with a bed like a linen marshmallow and it is hard not to enjoy the lovely western feel.