Wednesday 15^th January, 2020 1300 En Route Tianshui-Lanzhou

Last night I managed to drag my tortured legs about two hundred yards to the barbecue place we'd spotted the day before. It turned out to be a Japanese-style BBQ which was most welcome. And most odd.

Alice was busily ordering individual items when I suggested perhaps it might be easier if we ordered a set platter. It was one of those affairs with the sunken grill in the table and you cook yourself, always a hit. However when our set meal arrived it came on what can only be described as a miniature spiral staircase, on each step something different rested.

Assorted ham, bacon, beef, aubergines, tofu – you name it, we had it, including some absolutely divine cocktail sausages I would love to buy for home if I knew where to get them. The only thing that let the restaurant down was the steak. It became quickly apparent they had simply purchased a perfectly circular, plastic steak frozen from a local supermarket, then cut half of it into segments and the other half into strips. Such steaks have the consistency of soft rubber and I for one would have preferred to have had heaps more sausages instead!

We both had our fill though and before leaving I wanted to go to the loo. The “auntie” who was busily bailing out the tsunami in the gents refused me access, so the walk back to the hotel was a little brisker than that leaving. Alice cluttered off to take a nose around in Xstep, which she informs me is a world-famous sports/sportswear chain. I've never heard of it.

I never made breakfast this morning. Oh I was up in plenty of time, that's for sure, but having eaten quite a bit last night I simply wasn't hungry. You-know-who of course went down and ate two portions anyway.

Check-out at 1145 was simplicity itself, just hand over the keys. By a strange coincidence before we had arrived I had expressed the opinion that seeing as the hotel had no bar and the restaurant only opened for breakfast (which is free to all residents) it was preposterous that they should still demand a deposit. For those unfamiliar with China, you are in trouble if the only money you have is sufficient for the room, they will want anything from 300-1500¥ in addition against incidentals, unless you pay by credit card. I have no problem with it if I intend to run a bar bill or eat but last time in Shanghai in the Ramada I haggled them down to a minimal amount when I pointed out there was no way I'd be using the hotel facilities when we were in the middle of the expat bars and restaurants!

However, for the first time in China, they said there was no deposit!

Unfortunately they were unable to summon a taxi this morning, they were all busy (the taxis, not the staff) and I guess that may have been because it snowed in the night and was by then spitting with light rain. We had to go to the main road and the Gods smiled, Alice stopped a cab before I'd even set foot on the zebra crossing.

You would think that being the second largest city in Gansu province (Lanzhou being the biggest), Tianshui's railway stations would sport a few – actually a lot – more amenities that they do. By this time I was peckish and a McD or BK would have been very welcome. I should have bought a packet of biscuits but foolishly I ordered a New Orleans style burger. The chicken had the consistency of jellied eels so I ended up taking the fowl out and eating the bun with the sauce and salad!

We are now well on our way home and will be arriving in 45 minutes.