Day Twelve -- Wuhan -- Friday - 21 March 2014

Up at 5:45 am -- treadmill -- Tai Chi and breakfast.   We are in Wuhan with a population of about 10 million --it is our Tour Escort, Jimmy's home town.  Crossing the Yangtze to Wuchang -- a city just 20 years old --  we visit the Huber Provincial Museum.  This museum is designed to protect, collect and display the cultural heritage of the Province of Hubei.

Our first stop is to look at a number of artifacts including lacquered items from the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC-220 AD) and porcelain items dating back to other ancient times. 

Next is a concert conducted by musicians in traditional Chinese costume -- their instruments were uncovered in the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng -- a feudal king who lived 2400 years ago. Instruments include:    Bronze Bells -- Stone Chimes -- Drums -- Qin and Se (string instruments similar to a zither) -- Sheng (reed pipe wind instrument) -- Chi (bamboo flute) and Paixiao (panpipes).  The sounds are lovely  -- we listen to five arrangements using a variety of instrument combinations. 

Our last stop is to see some of the other 15,000 items unearthed in 1978 from the Marquis' tomb. Some artifacts have inscriptions which have been useful in determining the time period.   These items also provide a window into life during the Marquis' time -- circa 433 BC.  In addition to the coffin of the Marquis who was about 42 years old when he died -- there were coffins of young girls thought to be his concubines.   Their deaths were found to have been intentional presumably as sacrifices so they could join their master in the after life.

After spending the morning in the museum and lunch on board the Emerald  -- Jimmy leads a walking tour to the shopping area.  He takes us to a pedestrian street with lots of small shops and a Wal Mart -- which does not take foreign credit cards -- imagine that -- only in China!   The Wal Mart is very confusing --- on three floors -- and of course everything is in Chinese so we have no idea what we are looking at -- particularly in the grocery section.  Jimmy leaves us to wander around the area.

Phil and I don't spend much time here -- but stop into a pharmacy to pick up some incidentals using sign language -- at one point I feel like I'm playing charades.

Walking back to the boat presents us with interesting street scenes.  We are very much in "celebrity mode" in areas like this where  "westerners" are not a common sight.  People stare -- some giggle and those brave enough ask to take our picture.  We also notice several brides and groom out and about --- must be a good day to get married.  

Thanks for Reading!

Pat