Touring Harbin

We are touring Harbin with 15 other teachers from the Kennedy Center. The first pictures are ice sculptures that we saw from the airport to our Isbis Hotel.  The pictures are taken from the windows on the bus. Notice the red Christmas tree in the lobby.  Lane has to use pliers to put on his books but he is finally all dressed to meet the cold weather.  Our first stop was the famous Stain Sophia Russian Orthodox church.  After the 1917 Russian Revolution and civil war, many Russians took refuge in Harbin and left their influences on the buildings in this small little city of only 10 million.  Services are not held in the church but has been turned into a picture museum.  We enjoyed (?) and typical Harbin Chinese dinner with Russian influence. I took a picture of some of the items.  They actually look better than what we ate!  The baker is making a very thin dough, spreading garlic and butter and cooking on a hot plate.  I wanted to try some.  We walked outside after dinner and enjoyed seeing the beautiful ice sculptures at night.  We even passed a Wal-Mart!  Hurray!  Everyone wanted some ice cream after dinner and a McDonald's appeared.  A French Bakery also appeared and we enjoyed our goodies with some hot chocolate.  Others had hamburger, french fries and ice cream.  What a way to spend New Year's Eve!!  Happy New Year's 2012 from Harbin, China.  Did I mention that it was COLD!

The entire city is turned into ice sculptures.  They cannot being
building until the river freezes over.  They must have 1,000's of
workers to complete everything in two weeks.

Christmas tree everywhere

Lane trying to get on his boots

Sophia church at night

The year of the Dragon - 2012