Jiangsu, part 4: Nanjing Family

From the Nanjing train station, we took the subway south through town. Past the old town, we popped up just outside the ancient city walls. Tall walls.

At the far south end of town, we got off the subway at the BenQ Hospital Station.

Out in the countryside, skyscrapers were popping up like weeds.


Soon we met Chunlin's cousin, who had a minibus courtesy of his company. Apparently any of the upper managers at the company can reserve the bus for personal use as they wish. The driver was an employee of the company.

On the minibus, we got on the freeway heading southwest. Several miles rolled by. Dusty smoggy town. The suburbs of Nanjing look like major cities.


The traffic was the same craziness as in the heart of town, but there was just less of it.


While we were still on the expressway, the sun started down. Luckily being in a mostly empty minibus meant I had a good view.




Cousin and the minibus took us to Chunlin's uncle and aunt's apartment. Chunlin's mother's older brother. They are the parents of Chunlin's Shanghai and Nanjing cousins.

They have a turtle in their shower.




Everyone got on the bus and away to the restaurant we rolled. We met up with Chunlin's cousin's wife and son and proceeded to eat another feast.

Peking duck. Yum.

More baijiu.

Hard to stop eating. Even harder to convince jia ren (family) that I'm full.

With this plus the big dinners in Shanghai, it was like Thanksgiving three times in one week! Oof.

Nephew Jack is learning English and he's not nearly as shy as his older cousins in Shanghai about trying it.

I should've taken my camera to dinner, because Jack and his mother went home while the rest of us returned to Big Uncle's home.



We ate lychee, drank tea, then looked through old photo albums -- including a few photos of Chunlin.

Big Uncle is only a few years younger than Granddad. He seems older since Granddad is an anomaly.

At ten o'clock, we said zai jian and headed back to the train station via the minibus, accompanied by Chunlin's cousin. Another fun day drew to a close.



Except, of course, for the little bit about waiting for a 1:15 a.m. train...