Yesterday was a fairly quiet day. We left the boat early and caught buses to the Sam site. Here we went up outside escalators to the top of the dam wall and were able to see clearly the lock and how it works.

Again, we were amazed at the detail and care of tourists and the facility and models in English. The engineering is great with the lock being the most complex in the world.

Back into the bus and to the ship where we whiled away the afternoon listening to the artists on oars explain their skills - a painter who paints pictures on the inside of snuff bottles -just beautiful; a fellow who chisels pictures on stone and a lady who has local pearls and jewelry (now what makes you think that we have been good customers???)

The dinner was the first of three a la carte meals which we had to choose at lunch time -again five course meal!!!

After dinner we attended a show of Chinese costumes which surprisingly was excellent. Model by all our staff who also danced, the costumes were from early days to today - which was really funny and they could have been anyone of our kids from school.

The staff are really lovely and go out of there way to help. Janet and I have trouble opening our door with the key card - sometimes works sometimes doesn't - and if they see us struggling they rush to our aid - giggling at the helpless Westeners!!!

When we go ashore we get helped off and on and they line the walkway singing out "welcome back" and "watch your step".

Today we sailed on to Wuhan - a town of some eight million with 35 universities. It is a huge modern city with of course the endless smog.

We only had a short shore visit to a beautiful museum which you could have spent a week in. The highlight was a musical performance of ancient bells which was delightful.

Back on ship, an afternoon snooze and I am sitting in the bar typing this. And because it is happy hour - sipping a Manhattan. Janet and I are working our was through the daily cocktail specials each day!!