Jinan Sheraton

I got to stay for $30 plus 1600 loyalty points. I feel sometimes I need to show that China and Jinan isn't purely exotic, that they are in many ways, for better or worse, like any major city.

Copper

Big enough for you?

Down the street

Steaming away are some baoze, the bready dumplings.

On Food Street

Bon Appetit

On food street.

Tasty

Crisp bread

Fill 'er Up

Just a truck. Somedays I need to show that Jinan isn't completely exotic. There's plenty of the normal.

Our Stadium

Fairly new (2009) and inspired by our city tree, the willow.

Isn't It Grand?

Announcing the new Shandong Provincial Museum. Bring your passport or photo i.d. to get in for free.

At the Bakery

Looks good.

License Plates

License plates here feature Chinese characters, Roman letters and Arabic numerals. Pretty global, I think.

Home Inn

Here's a typical standard room at the Home Inn, a hotel chain. There is free internet, a spic and span bathroom, desk and TV. All the essentials.

Jinan's Symbol

On an overcast day. We get little sun in February and March.

A Little Shop on "Food Street"

We don't know if this street is officially called "Food Street," but that's what we call it since they sell a lot of food there. When you don't speak the language that's what you tend to do, give places and things their own English names.

Get Your 5-A-Day

Don't they look enticing?

Cold and Damp

Not the best weather. Taken March 1, 2011.

Pink Apartments

A new building. Little pink apartments for you and me.

Undies

Folklore has it that it's good luck to wear red undies when it's the year of your Chinese zodiac sign. So Year of the Rabbit folks might want to sport these.

A Big Lunch

A student took me to this restaurant because it was warm inside. The food was pretty good too.

Snow

This was taken on Monday, February 28th. Since I'm in China I don't always have access to blogs. I had to share this as it's unusual to have snow so late in the year.

Welcome

The phoenix rises. After a malicious cyber attack, I'm starting to blog again.