Chopsticks are already waiting for you at the table!

This weekend I went on my first trip outside of Shanghai to WuXi.  We took the train with my boss, roommate and a Japanese women name song may (that is how it is pronounced not spelled).  It took an hour on the train.  WuXi is similar to Shanghai but it is a water town and there are more ancient parts of the city that have been preserved.   We first checked into our hotel and then went  to eat some WuXi delicacies. We had delicious pork steamed dumplings and dumpling soup.

Ashley, Me, and Songmay (She own a beauty salon in my neighborhood and is going to give us a disconnect.

When a new restaurant opens they send flowers and keep them outside until they die to show it is a new place.
After lunch we walked through the ancient water town!  The jugs are what they stored alcohol in. 

There were several great gardens with great ponds and landscape!  Next we went into the park and took a boat ride!  It was an old motor boat!  It was like bumper boats because no one was paying attention because they were taking pictures and eating picnics.

Ashley and I on the boat

Next we took a sky cap to the top of the surrounding hills!  There was a great view on the way up but it was hard to see the city very well because of the overcast weather.

This on the way down!!!  

After we walked around the city we went for traditional chinese tea and massages!  I'm adding a few more photos from the day! Then later this week I will update you about the nightlife and 100th day birthday party I attended on Sunday.