By Diane
We have been in Suzhou for a few days now. I have only really had one day of sightseeing.

Please forgive the scattered nature of the description. I have familiarized myself with history of the area that gives a big picture of the history.

On Tuesday, I went to the park that is next door to the hotel while Dave was at work. It is down the street and around the corner. On the way, I stopped for lunch at a tea restaurant for vegetable soup and fresh fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe and bananas).

It is beautiful garden that dates back at least 1100 years. The 7 story pagoda was first built in 1004. It is called the pagoda of Auspicious Light (Ruiguang). This one was built in 1986. At the bottom are four statues of Buddha. The area was a Buddhist monastery at one time. The other art and relics are in a museum for protection. I don't like heights and love it when there are high railings to hold you in. I overcame the fear and climbed to the top and actually walked around. I had to bend over to walk around it with the railing coming up about to my knees. I have challenged Dave to climb to the top. He would have to crawl around the top.

The garden also has on one boundary the original city wall and gates which date back 2500 years. The gates were rebuilt in 1351AD. Unlike European castles, this had two types of gates. There is a land entrance where you walk through one gate into a large courtyard and then you have need to walk through another narrow gate before actually entering the city. It is surrounded by the high fort wall where soldiers can look down and see if you are friend or foe. If you looked dangerous, you were toast by arrows or they could open the water gate and drown you. It is quite elaborate protection. The guards in the tower could see you coming anyway.

The garden is beautiful and immaculately kept. There are two other smaller pagodas on of which is called the Hall of Four Merits which is in the center. They even have an area for growing plants. There are many paths and buildings. I realized last night that I missed parts of the park. I guess I'll have to go back and check it out.

It was very hot and humid, so after walking around the garden, I went back to the hotel to swim a little and cool off.

Yesterday, the human resources assistant and a relocation company took me out for a few hours to look at apartments. It helped to give me an idea of what to expect in the way of size, availability and price. They range anywhere from $500USD a month to $1200USD a month for a three bedroom/2bath apartment that is about 1200 sq ft. It all depends on how close you are to restaurants and supermarkets. Ovens do not exist only a two burner stovetop and microwave. What they should me were brand new. The apartments were in various stages of completion. I am curious about apartments in Tianjin. It should be interesting.

I had hoped to go to a Confucian temple and another garden today, but there was a thunderstorm last night and it is supposed to rain all day. I'll see what the weather does this afternoon.
I don't mind staying and reading a bit. It is a weird kind of vacation. I don't feel compelled to see everything as fast as possible. I am taking it slow and just enjoying the free time.