This would have to be the most unusual way we have ever celebrated Christmas. We were woken at about 5.30 when Ella started vomiting! Thankfully we had let her open her few Christmas presents last night. She managed to survive the trip to the airport - only just and then the flight to Xi'an. Shanghai was really smoggy today, it was amazing to us that the planes could even fly as the runways just disappeared into the gloom.
We flew Hainan Airways, a Chinese airline, but thankfully they did give information and instruction in English. At one stage I looked up from by book to see the flight crew lined up, two abreast at the front of the plane. I expected to see them start goose-stepping down the asile any moment! Instead they made some incomprehendible announcement, clicked their heels together and bowed.
We were met at Xi'an airport and driven to the old part of the walled city. It is much colder than Shanghai, only 1 degree when we landed, but the city is more open and less smoggy even though there are 8 million people here.
We ordered burgers from room-service for our dinner, as it is Christmas Day, they were less than average, but the dinner was delivered by three staff members, one dressed at Santa Claus. It was worth is just for that bit. Certinaly not your average Christmas.
Hope to get our guide to help us get a SIM card tomorrow so that we can text home.
Thankfully Ella is feeling a little better tonight and tomorrow we are off to see the Terracotta Soldiers and then the overnight train to Beijing. Temperture tomorrow is forecast to be a low of -3C and high of 4C. Just getting us prepared for Beijing.
Merry Christmas from us.
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