Shengyang #3

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Arturo thought it would be funny to stand next to this soldier looking man.  He's one of those people that stand there and don't move for hours.  The funny thing is we can't figure out why he's inside this glass box?  


Spanish Translation (ST): Arturo penso que esto era chistoso.  Parandose eneguida de este señor.  Este señor es uno de esas personas que se paran alli por quien sabe que tanto tiempo sin moverse.  Lo que nos sorpendio esque este señor estaba adentro de esta caja de vidrio por quien sabe que razon?.... jeje



These are the people that charge to guide you through the palace.  So what we did for the first hour was stay close to one of them and had Tom (our driver) translate. hehe :)  After an hour all the rooms started to look the same so there was no need for a guide.  lol :)


ST: Estas son las personas que cobran para guiarte en el palacio.  Lo que hicimos fue caminar muy cerca de uno de los guias y nuestro chofer no interpretaba. jeje:)  Despues de una hora todos los cuartos se estaban mirando igual.... :)


A visual map of the palace. Gives you an idea of how enormous it is, I can't imagine how the Summer Palace in Beijing can be bigger, that's impressive. (remember this is 300 rooms)

ST: Este es un mapa del palacio para que tengan una idea que tan grande esta.  El Palacio de Beijing es todavia mas grande.  (recuerden tiene 300 cuartos) 








Standing outside the "Royal Throne".  / Parada enfrente de el " Trono Real"



Royal Throne / Trono Real









Royal Chair / La Cilla Aristocractica






Very important chair back in the day. / Esta fue una cilla muy imporante mucho años atras.




It was about 15 Degrees Fahrenheit so we had to be really bundled up. / Estaba como ha 15 grados, teniamos que estar bien abrigados.  




Royal something?? can't remember exactly what room this was.  We think it was one of the living rooms for one of the many wives the Emperor had.  

ST: No nos acordamos que cuarto es este, pero pensamos que fue unas de las salas de una da las esposas del Emperador.


















Huh? lol




Arturo being silly. Lol :) / Arturo muy chistosito... :)jeje



Shengyang #2

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Our driver used to live in Shengyang and he told us that this is a very old hotel.  Very cool looking building.


Spanish Translation (ST): Nuestro chofer antes vivia en Shengyang y nos dijo que este edificio es un hotel  muy viejo.   






Some of the common taxi transportation.  We didn't try this because it was super cold, we would've been two American Popsicles.  lol :)

ST: Este es un taxi muy comun en Shengyang.  No nos subimos en el porque estaba demaciado helado y nos hubieramos congelado. :)










We haven't seen much tagging in China, so we had to take a picture of this wall. 

ST: No hemos visto mucho de paredes pintadas en China, so tuvimos que tomar una foto. 


Arturo, Tom (our driver/ chofer) and John (Tom's son/ el hijo de Tom)




Tom and John



So we were expecting for this palace to be secluded from the city, maybe resting on some faraway mountain.  But come to find out,it was completely the opposite.  The city surrounds the palace.  We are assuming that the picture above shows where the palace begins or it could be just one of the many entrances.

ST: Anticipavamos que el palacio estaba aislado de la cuidad.  Que alomejor el palacio se encontraba en una montaña distante.  Pero nos dimos cuenta muy rapido que la cuidad rodea el palacio.  Pensamos que lo que se mira en la foto arriba es donde empiesa el palacio ho solo una de las entradas.  




It was amazing being able to see how old the structures really are./  Era divino mirar que tan antiguo las estructura estan.


















One of the biggest doors we've ever seen./ Una de las puertas mas grandes que hemos visto.




So some of the old buildings that are found outside the main walls (main palace area) are used as commercial buildings.  Most of them are souvenir shops.

ST: Alguno de los edificios que ese encuentra afuera de el palacio principal son tiendas.  La mayoria de las tiendas venden objetos de recuerdo.



Shengyang

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 We went to Shengyang  for three days, it's about 5 hours North from Dalian.  Shengyang is the capital of the Liaoning Province and much bigger than Dalian.  An Imperial Palace is there, it was built in 1626 that looks much like the Summer Palace in Beijing, only not as big.  This palace has 300 rooms with two large courtyards.  It was ruled by "Nurachi".  

Since we took so many pictures we will be posting them in different chapters.  This first post will have pictures of a drive through the city. 

I found this very interesting sight if you would like to know more on Shengyang's history: http://uk.holidaysguide.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-192294-shenyang_history-i


Spanish Translation (ST): 
Fuimos para Shengyang por tres dias, esta como ha 5 horas al Norte de Dalian.  Shengyang es la capital de la Provinica Liaoning, es mucho mas grande que Dalian.  Un Palacio Imperial esta alli que fue construida en 1626.  Se parece mucho al Palacio de Beijing, pero no esta tan grande.  El palacio tiene 300 cuartos y dos grandes patios.  La Dynastia fue controlado por "Nurachi".  

Como tomamos demaciadas fotos, lo separamos en capitulos.  Este capitulo se consentra mas en un viaje por la cuidad. 




These are the most common apartment homes in China. / Esto son los apartamentos mas comunes en China.
  







Since it's really cold this time of the year, you'll notice people wearing huge mittens on bikes./ Como esta muy helado en este tiempo, se mira mucha gente usando guantes grandes en motocicletas.  









Commercial street/ Calle comercial






You'll see this a lot in China... cars making random U-turns even during heavy traffic./  Se mira mucho esto en China.... carros girando en U cuando ay mucho traffico.  




Are You Hungry?

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While living in China we like to support the local work force so we do most of our shopping at local farmer's markets.  I (Maria) like to buy most of our fruits and veggies from a market called "JinMa".  But out of curiosity I always walk the meat aisles to see what crazy things they have.  You would not believe the things that are sold in these places.  I haven't seen it myself but a few friends have seen dog heads sold at a similar market.
Is it just me.... or does the heads look like they're smiling?


Spanish Translation (ST): Nos gusta apoyar la fuerza de trabajo.  Poreso hacemos nuestras compras en los mercados locales.  Yo (Maria) compro nuestras frutas y verduras en un mercado que se llama "JinMa".  Pero de curiosidad me gusta caminar el pasillo en donde venden carne, se mira cada cosa.  No se pueden imaginar las cosas que venden alli.  No lo he visto yo pero alguien de mis amigos miro cabezas de perro en un mercardo similar.
Nomas soy yo... verdad que parece que sonrien las cabezas?



This lady was selling pork, which actually doesn't look half bad.  Her station is one of the cleanest I've seen so I wouldn't mind one day buying from her.


ST: Esta señora vendia carne de cerdo.  La verdad, no se mira tan mal.  Este puesto es uno de los mas limpios que he visto.



But this other station that sells lamb wasn't very clean.  The meat looked dirty and the heads don't look very appetizing.

ST: Pero este otro puesto que vendia borrego no se miraba tan limpio.  La carne estaba muy sucia y las cabezas no se miran apetitoso.


Cow's tail./ Cola de vaca.







Dalian is known for their seafood.  There are different varieties of sea creatures, some not common in the US.

ST: Dalian es conosido por la variedad de marisco que ay.  Algunos mariscos no se miran en America.


When  you enter JinMa sometimes the smell hits you right on your face.  Some people can't handle it and skip this market all together.  I don't mind it as much in the winter.... but the summer with 100% humidity and no A/C is a whole different story. lol :)

ST: Aveces el olor de la carne y marisco es fatal.  Ay gente que no puede entrar porque apesta demaciado.  Ha mi no me molesta en el invierno... pero en el verano con 100% de humedad y no aire acondisionado es otra historia.  jeje :)



Clams, oysters, scallops and other./ Almejas, ostiones, escalope y otras cosas.


Do you see the turtle?  / Miran la tortuga?



That's one of the things I like about Dalian, they have jumbo shrimp./  Eso si nos gusta de Dalian que tienes camaron grande.


Don't know what kind of fish this is..../ No se que clase de pescado es este.....


Some kind of worm.../ Una clase de gusano...



Dried seafood.  Chinese people love this stuff, I see it everywhere./ Ha los Chinos les encanta esto, marisco seco.






We love the fruits and veggies in China.  They're big, cheap and delicious!/ Nos encanta la fruta y verdura en China.  Son grandes, baratos y delicioso!