Wednesday 3rd May, 2017                             0920

So much for weather forecasts. Sure, they got Lanzhou right because when I left it was decidedly cool and spitting with rain. I had packed my fleece in the case on the basis that it was supposed to be 28C in Xi’an and wouldn‘t be needed when I got there.

I arrived in good time at the train station but was surprised to be stopped after the luggage x-ray. Flying yes, but a train? Nobody spoke English but they were jabbering away at me regardless. I recognised “jo” and nodded, yes, I have jing jo and hong jo. They wanted to inspect it! Quite why is beyond me but once they saw it I was free to go.

Knowing that once I disembarked from the train there would be no further alcohol available until arrival in Shaanxi province, I manfully fortified myself until just prior to checking in, where, naturally, my bag was suspect and I was banished to the bad boys baggage check room. This time I was justifiably mystified because I hadn’t even tried to sneak a lighter through (Alice was meeting me at the other end and was bringing one for me) so rather curiously I did as I was bade and, in slightly combative mood I threw my arms out in righteous indignation and asked “what??”

Battery.

Oh for God’s sake. That charging pack for phones. I had forgotten that from last time. You have to have it in your hand luggage, not in the hold. Back to the check-in desk merely to get my luggage tickets scanned again and blow me if I wasn’t sent back again to the naughty step!

Now I really WAS getting miffed. I strode back there, glared at the security men and gave an even more demonstrative arm-spread. As last time, they had forgotten to clear the computer and they hastily did so and told me I was free to go airside. I did wonder if I might ever see my case again.

Aboard the aircraft, a China Southern 737-800, my humour was worsened by the realisation that despite requesting an aisle seat I had been allocated the window. On an hour’s flight in fairness it is no big thing but that wasn’t the point. Except when I realised they had now closed the doors and we were sealed and ready to taxi, I actually had the window, middle and aisle seats all to myself. Had the flight been longer I would have stretched out and gone to sleep but seeing as we climbed, levelled out for five minutes and then started our descent, it would have been pointless.

The Mehood hotel is ok. The room is slightly smaller than expected but comfortable enough and they offer free snacks in the bar. Beer’s a bit expensive at 12y a bottle but then, it IS an hotel.

For dinner it was off to Three Sisters with the promise of sweet and sour pork, proclaimed by many on Trio Advisor as “delicious”. With high hopes, I ordered some plus a bowl of spicy potatoes, Alice ordered a plate of leek jaozi (they didn’t do dim sum). The sweet and sour pork disappointed. It was in fact sweet pork, fat and gristle. I have had better in fast food places in Chizhou. On the plus side, including drinks the bill was only 81y so all I lost was some time.

There was a Walmart opposite so we went to have a look at what western foods they had. Alice had wanted to go and see the biggest fountain in China when it was switched on at 2030 but when she checked online, she too was disappointed as it wasn’t going to be on last night. I on the other hand came away from Walmart with a dozen packets of Ritz crackers. I haven’t seen those for ages.

 We actually had an early night. I never slept too well though, for during the night the rain started and I could hear it hitting the a/c unit outside the window and later the howling wind. Drizzle my arse! Sometime during the night there was a power cut but it was on again by the time I got up at seven.

Breakfast was great for Alice but disappointing for me but then I had expected that. They never advertised a western restaurant and in fairness they did have bacon on offer (my heart leapt when I saw sausages but fell again when I found they were corn sausages) so I could have had bacon, eggs and toast. If they had any butter. Ooh! Cornflakes! Oh, only hot milk, that’s for kids. No breakfast for me but Alice had lamb neck soup, boiled egg and a plate of what appeared to be egg fried rice. That was breakfast?

The rain is set in for the day so although I am determined to see the terracotta warriors, anything else Alice had planned is out because it won’t be undercover. I am rather hoping as well that tonight’s dinner will please, we are probably going to go to the number one restaurant in Xi’an as voted for by Trip Advisor reviewers, “Cyclist”, which is an Italian place. I suspect it will be pricey but as long as it’s not extortionate……..