The hotel where I'm staying, and the office I'm working at in Guangzhou, is on a little island in the Pearl River called Shamian Island. Now, the Pearl river...well it's a lot like the Charles, or the Potomac. So it's really sketchy when I see people fishing in it.
When European merchants first came to Guangzhou, the only place they were allowed to settle was the Shamian Island. It's not too big, about 3 blocks wide and maybe 5 long. But the architecture is nice, there are some old European style buildings that really stand out from the rest of the city, which is full of dirty and shabby looking homes and tall apartment buildings, all alike, that are very much 1984 meets Miami. I have pictures, I think you'll understand it. So Shamian Island really stands out, and while the buildings are not all well maintained, it's got character and some interesting architecture, and trees as tall as the buildings.
There are 2 groups that are drawn to the Island. The first being the brides.
Apparently it's popular in China to get a photo book done before one's wedding. It appears to be more than just the typical posed photos of the bride in her dress, and the groom in a tux. I think they also take photos in normal dress, well, at least dressed up. So there's always a bunch of brides and their posse (posses?) all over the island, taking advantage of the scenery and getting lots of photos. They, the Chinese, also seem to be fond of very goofy poses.
There's a second group that is drawn to the island, the babies - and their families. Not the babies of the aforementioned brides though. The US Consolate's office for processing visas and passports used to be on the island, so all the Americans who adopt Chinese babies had to come here before heading home to the US. The Consolate's office has moved, but the families still come here. The hotel caters to them well, and all the little stores around here have free stroller rentals, and cute baby stuff to buy. It's nice to see the happy families, and the really cute babies everywhere. There weren't as many over the weekend with the holiday, but I saw a couple more at breakfast today. Most of the time it's just the parents and the baby, but I have seen one family that brought their 2 other kids, and a couple today with a grandmother.
I haven't mentioned the hotel I'm staying at, The White Swan, but it's pretty nice. Aside from the bed, which is a rock - I did ask for a second duvet for more padding, and they brought that, and a mattress pad, so last night I slept much better, but that could have also been the Jack and Coke I bought at 7-11 for about 3 bucks... Decor-wise, the hotel is nice, although I've heard they are going to be closing it in the next year or so to renovate the whole thing. Aside from the lobbies and restaurant areas, it reminds me of the Vineyard...particularly the front bedroom. The carpets are light pink and green, and there's a lot of light wood in the room. Of course, the musty smell in the hallway, and the smell of the water (though this is from the river I believe, not the ocean) might be what really reminds me of the Vineyard!
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