First Day in Guangzhou

We have arrived on Shamian Isaland in Guangzhou China and are staying at the White Swan Hotel.  It's a pretty ritzy place, but as many have noted before, it's packed with adoptive families just like us.  Today wnet by really fast, but was filled with a lot of highs and lows.  The days started off early (after only 4 hours sleep because of a late plane arrival from Shanghai) which resulted in an exhausted Bridges family and a very grumpy Ginny at breakfast.  First on the agenda was the passport photos and medical tests, a few blocks away from the hotel.  The medical examination place was packed with people.  However, despite a very early morning and very grumpy Ginny, she actually did well during the tests themselves, until the end, when she was just ready to be outside and "lost it" a bit.  She did get good reports on all of her tests, though.  Not long after this when we went out for a bit again, she zonked out and got a 2 hour nap in, the first real nap she's had all trip.  SO, therefore, the rest of the day was pleasant with a cheery Ginny, and therefore happier Mommy, Daddy, and brother as well.  We had a long paperwork filling-out session this afternoon as well to go through, but I believe that may be one of the last big rounds of paperwork we'll need to contend with on the trip.  We had dinner at the famous "Lucy's" which is an American style restaurant a block away from the hotel.  We went with all of the Great Wall China Adoption Families, and had a great time of food & fellowship.