This is the nicest place so far. The old town is completely pedestrian and a World Heritage Site. Our driver stopped at one of the gates on the main road and our luggage was taken by cart to the hotel. Val and I have a big room with a big bathroom; everything plumbed in this time, but no door, so no privacy for toilet use! M's single room,however, had been flooded and the carpet was completely saturated. A de-humidifier was running. If it was me, I would not have accepted this for a minute but we were miles away from reception and feeling tired after the trip. She did not sleep well, needless to say, but was given another room next day.
Val and I left her in Lijiang to walk around the old town and do some sketching, whilst we went on the scheduled trip up to the Snow Mountain. We went up by cable car to 3,200 m. and then walked on a wooden pathway to the Spruce Meadow (very beautiful in winter with snow, also in spring with wildflowers). Wrong season for us! Vast numbers of Chinese tourists queued for everything, but most of them were going up to the glacier, the highest accessible point in China apart from Everest. They had all hired bright orange long down coats and many carried small portable oxygen canisters. They were ascending to 4,500 m. And would not see anything as we were already in cloud. It was an experience for us and we didn't suffer at all from the altitude. The best coffee ever was consumed when we got down to the bottom again.
Looking into our room from the bathroom.
Our hotel in the Old Town, which is a World Heritage Site.
Brandon, our guide, at the top of the cable car.
Walkway to the Spruce Meadow.
Naxi Village and Afternoon in Lijiang
We had lunch on the way back at a traditional Naxi village. We also bought freshly cracked walnuts from a little old lady street vendor. I was also tempted buy more indigo tie dye: this time a bedspread (or could make 2 tablecloths).
Nut seller.
Evening in Lijiang is pretty spectacular. All the lights come on which outline the roof lines, red lanterns dance in the breeze and all is reflected in the stream that flows through the old town. Couples strolled about (this is a famous honeymoon destination). We had dinner at a restaurant which served both Asian and Western food; I couldn't resist a hamburger and locally made wheat beer. Stomach getting decidedly fatter. Later I met Mr Putin outside the waxwork museum.
I learnt the following morning the carpet had been cleaned prior to our arrival and the staff were most apologetic when they saw how wet it was in some parts. In my single supplement status our tour operator always provided me with a fabulous room with king bed. No single beds for moi :-0 !!
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