Day Six - Chongqing to Fengdu - Saturday - 15 March 2014

First morning on the Emerald -- I went to the exercise room and used the treadmill for about 10 minutes and then to my first Tai Chi class.  Tom, our instructor,  is a Master in Tai Chi but speaks no  English, so Ben (an officer on board) translates.  The class is good -- more strenuous than it looks.

After breakfast there is a lecture on China focusing on the area we are cruising along the Yangzte where the Three Gorges Dam Project is located.  It is the largest hydro-electric power project in the world.  Approximately 1.4 million people were relocated from farms to high rise apartments in newly-built cities along the Yangtze. Construction started in 1994 -- completely functional in 2012 Started -- total completed expected in 2015. 

Today we visit Fengdu -- one of these newly-built cities.  The inhabitants have scheduled a music program with some of the children and others in an open area in the city.   It is a lot of fun -- the people seem so happy.  The young girls come up to us and ask if they can take our picture.  They do not see many Westerners in this part of China since Viking is the only riverboat that stops in Fengdu --  this is the first time this year.  All the children are well dressed -- the 10 to 14 year olds have cell phones and dress in the latest fashion. As we stroll through the shopping plaza across the street --- more people are looking at us, pointing and giggling.   We feel like celebrities as the teenagers ask us if they can have their picture taken with us --  mothers want to take pictures of us with their babies and young children.  Now I know how Julia Roberts feels!

Our next stop is the farmers'market --- small but full of fresh-looking vegetables and lots of dried spices and vegetables especially the hot chili peppers.  A parade goes down the street -- with three young ladies dressed in dresses made of artificial flowers -- followed by a marching band all dressed in red suits.   We soon find out that this is an advertisement for a new apartment building -- brochures are distributed complete with floor plans -- since the text is in Chinese we can't tell what the price is. 

Back on board the Emerald in time for the Welcome Cocktail Party at 6:30 pm.  We have settled on a table with the same four couples -- Al and Deb, Radhe and Krishnna, Dave and Tracey and Phil and me.  After dinner is Bingo -- Al wins a Chinese tea set -- which he gives to Sherri (another passenger)  -- who was hoping to win it.

Good Day on the River!

Thanks for Reading!

Pat