Luzhi, Stepping Back in Time

Last Tuesday, Cindy invited me to go to Luzhi for the day. Luzhi is one of the oldest "water towns" in the province. It seems like everywhere I turn I'm looking at buildings or artwork, streets and shops dating back hundreds of years. Originally, there were seventy two bridges crossing over the many canals. Today, there are forty-one. Cindy thought there wasn't any charge for entering the area, but tourism is big business. We arrived just as many of the shop owners were opening their doors and others were beginning their daily routines. There were no other "westerners" for several hours, which made the experience a little less touristy. We strolled along the narrow streets, peeking into the homes and catching a glimpse of time standing still. The rooms of the homes were sparse with furniture, a table with benches no wider than my arm, stairs steeper than alpine slopes. People washing their clothes in the canal, repairing the ever-eroding buildings, bartering with each other for supplies, and always cooking something. No matter what time of day, the smells (whether good or bad) permeate the air. I'm getting a bit more daring each time I go, trying the local fare. As long as there isn't anything blatantly gross in sight, I'll give it a whirl. After Larry's success at the hospital, at least I know I can get treatment.
Cindy's youngest daughter, Jessica, hadn't gone to school because she was recovering from a bug. She's so adorable with her red-rimmed glasses. She speaks fluent Chinese and served as my intrepreter for the day. We read about the famous writers and philosophers that lived in the town, names I of course, cannot remember now. We watched the local women perform an ancient ceremonial dance and I took every dancer's picture. They thought it was great and were so excited they giggled like little girls. They are used to having their picture taken, but not at seeing the actual picture of themselves. They were lined up so each one could see. Amazing to witness and yet something else we all take for granted. In the background of the dancing picture there is a large tree. Evidently, it's a fifteen hundred year old Ginko tree and people come from far away to see it. Obviously, it didn't leave that great of an impression on me if it's only in the background. It's the people that interest me. Even the little old begger woman, who followed me throughout the town, got her picture taken. She wasn't all that impressed with her picture and asked for my camera instead.