Adrift amongst the Taiwanese

Taipei - Capital city of Taiwan on the northern end of the island.   Input 6 Portlanders in the eastern part of the city and look out!   It's Sunday which means the local market in back of the hotel has special things that aren't there the rest of the week, like the bread with a vegetable much like onion diced up on it ... made by the same woman who makes the "to die for" rice flour angel food cake.  YUM.   The fruit and vegetables are fabulous. We sampled various things, some known, some not!  Highlight of the market was a drink made of ground up mild chili's and ice ... who knew?   It wasn't spicy but all concurred that it would be great with vodka! :)  Nice people, eager to share and have you taste their goods.  (Picture - vegetable vendor at the market.)  

As we return from the market, we see that Simon Chen has arrived.   Simon and Dr. Chen are our US officials and they have made numerous arrangements for us from airport transportation, our comfortable hotels, etc.  We are truly thankful.   About the time we're talking to Simon, Dr. Chen calls and tells Simon to tell us not to eat the market food ... too late ... we've been there, done that.  :)

Next stop -- massages.   Oh why not?   Rachel and Jim go off for a walkabout and the other 5 us go for an hour and a half excruciating pain and pleasure.  To Kurt and David at Therapeutic Associates ... they found all kinds of new places to inflict pain ... never had eyeballs and cheeks massaged (facial cheeks that is)!  And that smiling thing is that you guys all do is global!  When they'd see us wince ... they'd get that same smile that the Portland physical/massage therapists get.  (Go figure!)

Well, let's see ... it's 2pm, what next?   Must be time to eat again.  Off to a local noodle restaurant for some noodle soup.  Very tasty!   Alas, it's in the heat of day, time for a little downtime in the air conditioned rooms.   Gives me a chance to do this blogging thing.

From Taipei - Laurie for Team USA

P.S. Congratulations to Wasabi!  We hear there was a great showing at the Kent Races!!!