Noilly Prattle: China - Spring 2018, Hangzhou

in the taxi to the clinic

We had breakfast earlier than usual and got into the taxi that the hotel had arranged around 9 A.M. The hospital was quite a bit farther than I had imagined. It took at least half an hour to get there.

THE HOSPITAL

one of our caretakers . . .

. . . the other caretaker

The hospital people were warm and friendly. They practically took us by the hand when we arrived, looking confused and uncertain, and shepherded us around for our examinations and blood work. They treated us like VIPs. Our liaisons were a lady and a man both of whom spoke English and Japanese. They brought us to the doctor who examined us. He had exquisite bedside manner, friendly and smiling and efficient. It turned out that he was 80-years old (I asked). Then we went to another area for blood work. I normally hate blood work, but I was amazed at how quick and efficient it was. I hardly felt anything and before I knew it it was over.

our 80-year-old charmer -
and I don't think his hair is dyed

herbal medicine

While waiting for the blood work results in our liaisons' office I realized I had lost my reading glasses. The man backtracked, looking for them, but didn't find them. I was resigned to doing without them when we returned to the examining doctor's room for the blood work results and the lady asked about my glasses again. The old doc smiled and produced them, having found them behind the examining table where they had fallen out of my breast pocket when he examined my abdomen. I was so relieved. The good doctor prescribed some Chinese herbal medicine and throat lozenges. We took our first dose in the liaisons' office then the lady kindly helped us hail a taxi back to the hotel. We were really impressed with our treatment at the hospital and the efficiency and competence of the professional staff.

WEST LAKE - THE NORTHERN CAUSEWAY

tourist map of West Lake and surroundings

Lingering Cold on Broken Bridge

The weather was still uncooperative—cloudy, windy and very cold—when we got back to the hotel, but we decided to go out and walk along the Northern [Bai] Causeway of West Lake anyway and take our chances. We planned to take just a short walk to the first stone bridge—poetically called “Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge” (although it isn't broken)--one of the scenic spots around the lake. But, once there, we said what the hell and decided to keep on walking to the end of the causeway—about one and half kilometers.

Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge

duet at Broken Bridge

wind in the willows

smart phone trio

smart phone solo

The strong cold wind was biting and unpleasant. I felt chilled to the bone and the damp cold was affecting my hip a little. Thanks to the weather and the lingering cold it was not a really pleasant outing, but we soldiered on. After traversing the causeway it took a while to find a bus stop to take us back to the hotel, but we finally succeeded. It cost 2 Yuan (about 39 cents ) per person—more than reasonable. After settling for a KFC and some not very fresh food we returned to the hotel and into a nice hot bath to heat up the muscles and bones. Although the weather could have been better, the outing was better than sitting in your room all day, cold or no cold.