3.28.09 Off to Guangzhou

Today we left Nanchang to Guangzhou where adopting families come through for the US Consulate. We were ready (Maelyne included) at 6:00 am and headed to the Atrium Cafe for breakfast right when they opened at 6:30 am. The bellboys are picking up luggages at 7:00 in our rooms so Henry ate quickly in order not to miss the pick up. Maelyne and I followed shortly to get her changed. The weather is in the low 60's and still having rain showers. We boarded the bus to the airport at 8:00 am, got there after 30 minutes, checked in and proceeded to gate 6 after passing through the security. We took off at exactly 10:00 am. The flight was only 1 hour, 10 mins. This is Maelyne's first airplane ride and she did great. She fell asleep just before we landed and she did not have any problems.
We arrived at the White Swan Hotel after a 45 minute drive from the airport. Our CHI coordinator Elsie lives in Guangzhou and she's happy to be back to her hoemtown. Our local guide is David Kong. Weather is hot and humid. The White Swan Hotel is set on the edge of Shamian Island. Originally a beach on the Pearl River facing the White Goose Pool. Shamian was separated from the mainland in the Qing Dynasty and turned into an island which overlooks the River on one side and has the city at its back on the other. We were checked in at about 1:00 pm. The rooms were being cleaned upon our arrival so we had to wait for a while. Our room is #1128 with the city view and a little bit of river view. The hotel is so gorgeous inside with very beautiful Asian decorations. There is a pagoda with waterfalls on the second floor , which is very attractive. We haven't had a chance to take pictures yet because we had to settle in, do some paperworks, confirm our returning flights and we must have brought with us the rain and thunder from Nanchang because it started raining hard in the afternoon . The winds were strong, too. The good news is we had finished our lunch at Lucy's, an American restaurant and had done some shopping nearby before downpour.
Henry ordered take out and we just ate inside our hotel room. Really don't want to take Maelyne out in the rain because we're afraid she might get sick. Just protecting our little sweetheart you know. :)
Maelyne and dad are now sleeping in separate beds. We got a room with 2 twin size beds (bummer) and a crib but Maelyne settled on the other bed so I will be sleeping with her tonight.
It is now 15 past midnight so nite, nite...