A Bicycle ride and Terracotta Warriors official shop

Our day started on the 5th of July with a bike ride on top of the 950 year old wall in Xian.was early morning, not too hot. Ben took off as if he was on a race. Hannah and Ben were on a tandem, with Herb on a seat height made for a 5'2" person - not a 5'10" big guy! I was on a solo bike and my seat height was set for a 4'8" person and my knees were hitting my chin. Neither one of us could keep up. Kathy and her daughter Eliza were riding with Ben and I was praying they were keeping up with him. He actually got out of my vision. They were all just a blur. So, we knew we had to turn around in about 20 minute s- only having enough time for about a 45 minute bike ride. Fortunately, Kathy, it turns out rides her bike to work every day 8 miles each way and was riding alongside Ben the entire time and got him to turn around appropriately. I was convinced we were going to have to send out a search party - but all turned out well and we all made it back on time.

Four of the girls posing on the wall and Ben after his bike ride. After our little wall bike ride adventure, we were off to see the factory that makes the amazing 30 layer varnished furniture that China, and apparently Xian is famous for. They also showed how they now make the replicas of the terracotta warriors -- so Ben and I are posing behind the headless warriors - just a fun silly thing to do. Then the kids got to use clay to push into molds to get an idea how the terracotta warriors were made - they enjoyed it. And of course the adults had an opportunity to learn how the furniture was made - which was quite interesting - and they showed how the 30 layers of varnish were used over the wood and how the inlaid mother of pear was set and finished. so....we got sucked right in and bought a spectacular piece to put in our upstairs hallway - only two months to ship it (!)

the kids thought it was great fun to put the clay in molds. - Oh Hannah talked me into a real girly girl jewelery box a couple of earrings for when she pierces her ears - apparently she plans on doing this for her 9th birthday and thinks it is great fun "collecting" earrings for this!