In the Great Mosque with the Guys

We took a quick trip to Xi'an last weekend to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. Seems like something you should do if you live in China. The warriors were impressive, and I'll post some photos, but the twenty minutes Caleb, Seth and I spent in the Great Mosque complex area was a high spot in the weekend for me.
The mosque was founded in the height of the Tang dynasty, in 742, although I'm sure all the buildings are not that old. The compound was comprised of many buildings arranged in courtyards, with beautiful landscaping throughout.
We visited the mosque after 6 o'clock at night, so there were very few other people around. I was going to go into the mosque area by myself while Scott and the kids hung out in the little alleyways of booths in the Muslim shopping area.
I was in the process of buying a ticket, when both boys said they wanted to come in with me. Both boys wanted to come tour an historical site? Hmmm. It made it extra special that they joined me, knowing that maybe they just wanted to be with me! We had fun taking pictures of each other and just fooling around. I drank in the landscaping and architecture, and they talked about movies. :-)
Look how tall this guy is!
Isn't the symmetry of these courtyards gorgeous?

Below is a peek into the prayer hall, which non-Muslims are not allowed to enter. You can see all the prayer rugs arranged on the floor inside. One man, with his white cap on, was inside straightening the rugs.

Thanks, guys! You made my day. :-)

Seen on the Street

Just in case the picture is too small on your monitor to read this sign we spotted on the outside of a building this weekend, it says, "Friend-making clubhouse at half past eight."

Interpret it however you like! :-)

Seth, the Soldier

Seth's 6th grade trip to Xi'an last week included a day visiting the site where the Terracotta Warriors were discovered in 1974 and are now being unearthed and restored. The soldiers date from 210 BC, when they were created to be buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emporer of China. There are far more left to be unearthed than have been dug and and restored so far. The estimates are that there are a total of around 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 520 horses... all created out of terracotta clay for Emporer Qin's use in the afterlife.
Here in the top of the photo you can see some of the jumbled soldiers that have begun to be dug out. In the lower part of the photo are restored soldiers.
Some of the horses being restored.

All photos are thanks to Seth!