Days 279-281 Qingdao, China, the 2008 Olympic Sailing Village

When Len was here visiting this last month, we took a weekend
trip to Qingdao, home of the 2008 Olympic Sailing Center,
and Tsingdao beer.  I was all about the sailing!

Before I get too far ahead of myself, we boarded
the high speed train from Beijing, and it was about
four hours to get to the seaside city.  We enjoyed
 looking out the window at nearly 300km/hr.

No wonder produce is so inexpensive in China.  The
entire countryside seems to be covered in hot houses!

We passed one empty high rise after another, and this
interesting bridge.  What is up with all the construction that
never gets moved in to?!  Keeping China at work, I guess.

In spite of a bumpy start trying to check in to our
hotel (note to self, be sure your passport stamps
to China are not faded in your passport :/)
I had to make an immediate beeline to Marina
City, the yacht basin of the 2008 Olympics.
I didn't care that it was nearly dark and drizzling.

As soon as I ran down to the docks and saw all of the masts
sticking up in the air, I stopped short and welled with tears.

I nearly cried with happiness when I heard this sail
flogging in the breeze.  God, I miss the sailing life.
Seriously, I was choking back tears, y'all.

I loved this sculpture along the waterfront. If 
you look in the background, you can see the judge's 
tower that faces the harbor where they could watch
the Olympic sailing course.  So very, very cool :)))

I told Len we had to come back down to the harbor in
the daylight so I could ogle all of the beautiful girls :)

The next day we took a taxi to Small Qingdao
Island to have a picnic lunch by the ocean and
to see some beautiful views of the city.

See the sign by the rocks?!

"Danger do not pull big waves" which must mean,
don't push your sweetie off the rocks and into the water!

We chose a spot on some rocks for our lunch
of homemade tortillas (Len's doing) with
avocados and cheese.  Delish.  It was
glorious smelling the salty smells and listening
to the waves roll over the rocks :)

Afterwards, we hiked up by the lighthouse to get a view of
the harbor.  There was a military museum at the end of
the jetty, and then there were several beaches as you made
your way around Qingdao Bay.  We decided to explore some more.

As we walked along the jetty, we saw the first of
many 'fake' wedding photos being shot that day. 

Having 'pre-wedding' photography done is big business in China.
The Chinese love to have spectacular photos made in
famous locations, like London.  They often gift their photos
to their wedding guests on the day of the 'real wedding'.
You see,  these photos are usually shot in rental gowns and tuxedos.
China is just plain weird sometimes...and they love to spend $$.

The building you see in the background is presently under
construction, though it will eventually house the military museum.

For now, you can tour the ships in the harbor if you'd like.

As we made our way around the bay through town,
we passed the Qingdao Germany Prison Museum.

From Small Qingdao Island (you can see the lighthouse in the
background) we could see Zhanqiao Pier across the bay.  

So we decided to go check it out!

And there, at the end of the pier, by the 'temple',
a kid decided it was time to squat.  He was so
enamored in watching his pee stream, that he stuck his
head between his legs for a better look-  sending his piss
 straight back, all over dad's ankle and sandals! This photo
 was shot after dad jumped out of the golden shower...and still,
 the little bugger was busy watching his piss stream.  BOYZ.

We saw some interesting characters on the pier; like
this lady conducting an entire symphonic orchestra
without the benefit of music or headphones!
Just watching her, I could imagine playing
Tchaikovsky's Overture 1812 all over again ;)

It looked like the Coast Guard was busy
patrolling and protecting the bay!

Several veterans were standing guard
with displays of the anti-Japanese movement.
This September 3rd marks the 70th anniversary
of the victory of the Chinese People's War of
Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
We'll get some extra vacation days next fall :)

The view of the beach' (such that it was) from the pier.

The 'sand' was more gritty and rocky.

And the water was sooo cold.

Still, the happiest girl in China!

We relaxed in the sun and 'sand' for a bit before we ventured on.

Next we walked through the center of town
to the Qingdao Catholic Church.  

Naturally, it is a popular location for 'fake' wedding photos ;)

Love was in the air.

and all around.  oh. my. goodness.

awkward

The funny thing is if you look closely at these
'rent-a-gowns', they are tattered and filthy dirty.
The brides typically had sneakers or house
slippers on underneath.  Nothing spells
'romance' like Chinese red house slippers!

  

This was our version of fake 'marital bliss' ;)
For the record, that is not a dot on my
forehead!  I had a run-in with my Cuban
coffee carafe, and sadly, it won.

The next day I had to convince my Len that going to the
Tsingtao Beer Museum was a good idea.  Doing the usual
'touristy' things is not his idea of fun, but there were
two free beers included in the tour which may have helped.
(Actually, he got four free beers as this girlie does not drink beer!)

I paid the extra $10 to get an English
speaking guide- totally worth it! She was adorable.

The first thing she wanted to do was take our picture
in front of the 100 yr anniversary statue before
we entered the "Number One Factory" (lol).
What made it all the more humorous for me is that
the one thing Len probably hates more than the
typical tourist traps is having his picture taken!
I was dying laughing; he was tolerating me ;)

Yep, that's where the beer is stored before bottling- on the roof!

Well it was $10 bucks well spent... they became fast friends :)
Len makes his own home brew, so he had LOTS of questions.
He was in awe that they did open fermentation until the mid 1990's.

He didn't need cajoled into this smile :)

He loves building machines and taking
them apart, and all things mechanical- so he
was like a kid in a candy store, and
he hadn't even been served the first beer yet!

An original bottle washer and drying rack.

The labels went through many changes under the
Japanese occupation.  Look at the lower label on the right side.

  

Of course, the process of brewing and bottling is all automated now.
My favorite part of the tour was the drunk house at the end!
You walked in this room and instantly felt WAXED.
I didn't take any pics, but here's a youtube video of a
family walking through the room: drunk house

After our tour was complete, Len needed
some food- and quickly!  Shadong province
is known for it's seafood, but he wasn't
feeling the octopus- neither was I.

Instead, we opted for the local delicacy of
spicy clams.  He ate every. single. one. of. them.
It seems like a nap was in order after all of this!

Later in the afternoon we headed back to
the Olympic Sailing Center.  I had
to climb IN the Olympic rings, of course!

There were plenty of empty slips to dock the sailboat!

As we walked around, the sun was beginning to set, and
the pollution haze was on its way up...and yet...

My love suggested we take a sunset sail around the harbor!

As we sailed out of the marina, I had the Olympic
Torch to my right, and....

the Olympic Rings to my left...

And soon we were passing the lighthouse
sailing out into the open ocean.  In no time
at all, we hit a six footer dead on and buried the bow!

Look closely, and here you will see...

two of the happiest sailors in China!

As he was watching the setting sun between
 high rises, I caught him on camera, feeling
exactly the same as I was feeling. HAPPY :)

The next morning, I was feeling like this guy-
I didn't want to leave the sea and board
 the train back to Beijing.
The good news? I can always come back :)

 G'nite, y'all!