Overnight Train To Xian

We left Beijing Friday night and boarded an overnight train to Xian. We all had sleeper cabins - 4 to a cabin, 2 top & 2 bottom beds. The train station was crowded and chaotic but we all managed to get on the train together and to our cabins. The train left the station around 9:30pm and then the girls went cabin to cabin exploring and visiting. Our group is an interesting bunch and we all get along fairly well. Tony our tour guide took some of his "people" to the bar car while some adults stayed behind with the kids. Things quieted down somewhere around 10 or 11pm. Most of the kids slept but I think the adults had a harder time getting some shut eye. Around 5:30am, we passed by a village where there were caves carved into the hillside that people sleep in-cooler in summer, warmer in winter than their houses. We all lined up at 8am in search of Tony's cabin before we departed. Off we went to our hotel and breakfast before a quick shower and our next adventure. Boarded the bus to Wild Goose Pagoda with Buddhas and then to a Muslim market and mosque-beautiful and quiet. A slower paced day since we were all very, very tired and Jackie our Xian guide took pity on us. The girls went to the pool afterwards where the ceiling is covered in umbrellas. Then, John and Barbara went in search of Pizza Hut-a scary journey with more details to come on that later. Suffice to say that a guard followed them around the mall while Barb tried to hide the scissors in her pocket. Crossing the street was a whole 'nother matter. Pizza never tasted so good!!