Odysseys, as usual, makes good use of our drive time as we wend our way back to Xian - as our guides talk to us. Among other things, we hear that anyone who is looking for a good deal on Chinese prescription glasses - needs to be careful to find an Optician who routinely handles Westerners - because Chinese glasses are *shaped* differently in order to fit the less-prominent nose bridge: they don't have the big bump that Westerners do - so they have to build their frames in a way that they don't fit Western faces.
As we pass through a toll booth, we notice that even though we're on a highway - that there are beautiful Bonsai trees potted and beautifully presented - just to make things prettier. Maybe this isn't such a big deal, but I think of having Bonsai's in a toll plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike - and it seems rather a remarkable "extra effort".
We unload at our Xian restaurant - and trek up to the 2nd floor to sit in front of the very-familiar lazy susan - and the appetizer course is presented in a way that clearly shows us that it is not pork or beef.
Quite tasty.But that is just the beginning. This turns into one of the most-memorable meals that we will have in China; DUMPLING LUNCH!
OK. It doesn't *sound* that exciting, but we are served a wicker basket of dumplings. Delicious. Nothing terribly unusual.
Then another. And another. And another. And when I finally start paying attention, each round is entirely *different*. Not just the contents: Shrimp, pork, chicken, walnut(!!), duck.... and on and on - but each dumpling is carefully *shaped* to reflect the filling. Each little dumpling is a complete work of art. It is almost a shame to pop them into our mouths, but they're delicious - and varied.
Even one that is shaped like a little oyster - complete with a pea for a "pearl". 
They just keep coming. 5 different kinds. 10 different kinds. We're stuffed and "couldn't possibly eat another" - until the NEXT one comes out and is just too clever (and delicious) to resist.
Ultimately we are served **16** different kinds of dumplings (plus the appetizer - plus a huge pot of soup - boiled right at our table).
OK. I know. I get too excited about food, but this was *entertainment* as well as a meal. Just a really wonderful surprise when all I was expecting - was lunch.
Great stuff!
We waddle down the stairs and back to the bus for a short trip to another "retail therapy" session: a Jade Factory. We're shown how the figures are individually, carefully, shaped by hand - on little grind wheels
- and we get an explanation of how to tell fine Jade 
(hold it up to the light: fine Jade has a transluscence and glow to it)... and the difference between Jade and Jadeite. I always assumed that Jadeite was "the cheap plastic imitation of Jade" - but it is exactly the other way around. The "good stuff" is the Jadeite because it is harder, has a higher inner glow, and is more difficult to shape - so it holds up better. 
We're ushered into the showroom and it is astonishing what has been created with Jade - and the different *colors* represented.
Just a note, too, to point out that nobody had any problem with us taking as many photos as we wanted. It's getting to where in the US there are signs everywhere forbidding photos: "If you want to remember it, you have to BUY it". That attitude hasn't pervaded China - yet.As always, we're given a choice of shopping at the Jade shop - or "escaping" to a tour of a local University just down the street. Kathy and I decide to split up: she stays to look at the Jade while I hop on the bus: I *always* like to tour Universities. This one is a technical institute and we stroll in through the front gate.
As we walk in, a student comes walking toward us - very quickly - but isn't interested in us. He finds a marker in the bushes, marks something on a sheet of paper, and hurries off. Apparently there is some kind of scavenger hunt in progress. I do *love* College life!We stroll along and engage some students. Most speak excellent English - and Chen translates in situations where our questions about their majors or studies - gets too much for the language barrier. We talk to one young Engineering Management student who is a local to Xian and ultimately wants to teach Engineering. She seems quite happy to talk to us for awhile - to exchange some College notes with us old Engineers from the West. We stroll on down the street and see many students out exercising - playing Ping Pong on a group of maybe 50 outdoor tables. Doing Tai Chi. Playing a badmitton-kind of game. Active. It feels great just "being college" again.
We wend our way back to the bus - and suddenly realize that one of us set down a purse while we were talking - and walked off. Whoops! We all just assume that it will have been "acquired" by someone since it contained money and a camera and other valuables, but Chen runs back in with our "purse person" - and find the purse sitting right where it was left. Crisis averted - and a small demonstration of the honesty of the College students.
The bus takes us back to the Jade Factory and we are re-united with our spouses.
Next up: The Garden of the Wild Goose.
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