Why I Like Xi'an

-Our hostel is located 2 blocks from the Muslim Quarters.

-Their food is delish.

-There is a “wall” around the city (as it was he capital of China for centuries and centuries) that you can walk or bike on.

-People get around on motorbikes and honk at you on the sidewalks.

-Beef on a stick.

-Lamb on a stick.

-We can walk to McDonalds to enjoy familiar ice cream treats and new ones too (Strawberry oreo McFlurries? Strawberry pineapple milkshakes? Way to go China.)
-It’s warmer than Harbin.

-There is a Bell Tower and a Drum Tower in the middle of the city. Music education at it’s finest.

-Security Checks: At the Taracotta Warriors, we had to have sort of ID on us in order to get in that wasn’t our passports. My mixed teammate, Laura {marie} Baker did not have any sort of photo identification. I just so happened to have both my drivers license and driving permit from the state of New York. Jia Jia, our adorable tour guide told us that Laura could use my ID in order to get in. Yes, Laura {marie} Baker was going to use this white girls ID in order to see the ancient ruins. As if I wasn’t white enough, the flash from the photo coated my skin in an extra layer of Antarctica that day. However, even though Laura {marie} Baker has been out of the sun for awhile, she is still clearly nothing close to Antarctica. We laughed at the irony, and we laughed at the probability that our plan would actually work.

Did she make it through security? You bet.