#1- There really is a ton of smog (my boogers are black, I checked, kind of like the climbing gyms that have the tire padding)

#2-The weather forecasters are just as bad here as in the US

#3-Out of Peru, Ecuador, and Jordan, the driving is most like the US in China.  There is a law against honking and on Monday they just instituted a law against jaywalking (the fine is 10 yuan which is $1.60 and needs to be paid on the spot).  There are a lot of small laws here and some are followed, others are not.  I think it is directly proportional to the presence of police officers.  I have been very surprised at the lack of police officers in general.  I would say that there are a comparable number to the amount in DC with slightly more traffic officers.

#4-There has not been one time when I haven’t felt safe

#5-Bicycles are all the rage.  I almost staked out the tri tandem in the previous post wanting to offer the owner $50 and taking it on the plane.  No one knows how to properly adjust a seat.  No one knows what grease is.  The vast majority of the bikes are single speed, but I haven’t seen a fixie yet.  A full service flat repair costs you about $0.40.

Overall we have been traveling at a leisurely pace and our style of traveling has been a little atypical for me.  Our meals have ranged from $7.5 (for four people) to $80 (including a $40 bottles of wine).  I am going to do a food picture dump now and probably another one at the end of the trip.

Best thing yet, crispy snap peas Szechuan style with peppers and peppercorns that will make your tongue tingle

Beef set meal

Onion greens and pork

Hot Pot

Mushrooms stuffed with stuff including garlic

Homemade noodles with spicy fermented soybeans ($1.35)

Spicy home fries (potato and onions)

On the airplane