Sea Cucumber anyone?

We have just returned home from another safe journey to China. I was able to get some reading and work done while Bob was at meetings. I realize now that the anxiety of traveling to places like China is being so far away from home and not knowing an area and more importantly a culture. With it being my second time there I was far more comfortable exploring a bit of Beijing on my own. Sharon (not sure of her Chinese name) made every effort to ensure our visit was enjoyable. She took me to lunch just to visit about anything but work. She then invited us to attend a concert at a church. We did not understand the magnitude of the invitation. It was very exclusive and had guards standing around the church every ten feet. Amazing orchestra, choir, and soloist from Germany!

We had to ride the subway to get to the concert. As we stepped out we found ourselves in Beijings version of "Time Square". It was beautiful and by the way, their subways were much cleaner than NYC!

The people here have been so kind. OK, so maybe not the taxi cab drivers. I learned that though their voice inflections are severe...and a bit raised...that is just the way they communicate. They could be proclaiming there undying love to someone and sound like they wanted to punch them in the nose. This was something I had to get use to. We did get to experience more of the food eaten by the locals.It is always a bit risky. I was able to get through almost every meal without too much anxiety. Bob on the other hand had a business dinner that defied all logic. This particular blog is not for those with tender stomachs...so ye be warned! The picture of Bob and I is at a restaurant used by the locals. The black things were fungus. Yes, I just kept telling myself..."it's a mushroom". It didn't help.Bob had the opportunity to be served a "sea cucumber" at a business dinner (no I was not there). He asked if it was a vegetable and much to his dismay his host said...No...it's a worm. They mine it from the bottom of the ocean and it is a rare delicacy. They take out all the insides, make it into a chunky gravy and serve the flesh of the worm, whole, on top. Hmmm...yummy. The picture that looks like a cucumber...yes that is what they served him and no he did not eat it...well one small tiny bite just to be polite.
As always it is good to be back home. I could not blog while in Beijing cyberspace so here it is ... a bit late and forgetting something I'm sure.
My next blog will be about fish you catch from the "top" of the ocean like salmon...
Loves...