Today we spent our last full day in this beautiful city. Matthew brought us to the Guangxi Provincial Museum, which exhibits artifacts from the 25 or so ethnic minority groups who live in the province. Actually Guangxi is not a province, but a Zhuang Autonomous Region, Zhuang being the largest of the minority groups iin the region. We saw huge bronze drums, made over 2,000 years ago, as well as crafts and clothing from the various minority cultures. Behind the museum is a wonderful garden, which contains replicas of some of the disticntive types of architecture associated with some of these cultures, including a wooden rain-and-wind bridge, typical of the Dong nationality. They believe that excellence in workmanship and design, especially in architecture, will ensure a good afterlife. The bridge is so beautiful, and so skillfully made, that no nails are used. I purchased a little model of this bridge, which I must now lug around with me (in a special wooden suitcase) for the rest of the trip.
After a quick stop at our favorite Nanning hang-out--yup, Walmart--where we purchased more cute, cheap kids' clothing, we followed our routine--lunch, nap for Lulu and Pierre, pool time for Libby and me. Alas, I am uncharacteristically under the weather, so sat by the pool today, while Libby swam with her idol, Jazz.
It was Pamie McCormack's birthday, so after dinner, we joined Terry, Pamie, and the adorable Caroline for birthday cake. Then Libby and I took our evening stroll, followed by our last visit (this trip, anyway) to the lounge bar.
Tomorrow we'll say good-by to Matthew, and to the city where we met our precious Lulu for the first time. I will miss the friendly people here, the bicycles and the motor-bikes, the sun parasols, the greenery and flowers everywhere--Nanning is a garden of a city. I will feel sorry to take Lulu away from this place, where so many different kinds of people have lived peacefully for so long, and where differences are respected, even celebrated. I regret we couldn't visit Lulu's beach city, Beihai, where she was born, and lived for nearly 4 years, her whole life. Next time. I promised Libby we'd come back to China, and I promise the same to Lulu, aka Eleanor Grace Xile Tripp Spy. Good night!
I should pack tonight, but think I will go to bed, and try to get better, in time for our flight tomorrow. Good night!
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