Rafting on the Yellow river

Today started off a park near the bank of the Yellow River.   IT is a very fast moving river.  The first attraction was this huge water wheel that shows how farmers use the wheels to get water from the river into their farm land.  This fully functioning wheel was built in the '80's as a replica to show how water was moved from the river.  

At the edge of the river were sheep skin rafts.  These are actually whole sheep skins that have been oiled and then inflated.  They are tied together and held by ropes on bamboo poles. People used these rafts to transport produce and themselves up and down the river and in the countryside. These rafts may be one of the coolest things I"ve ever seen. Look below, You can kind of see the actual individual sheep.

 So, guess what you can do here? yes, ride a raft down the Yellow River.  David and Trent took off on the adventure.  After you get down to a certain point a motor boat comes and picks you up for the ride back to the dock. Kaylee wasn't feeling well and I wasn't about to take the baby down the river.  That would be a news story waiting to happen.

Next we went to a local museum.  I really wasn't expecting to much from it. But I was wrong.  IT was a really nice museum that had lots of cool pottery and artifacts.  This elephant-like dinosaur skeleton was found in Johanna's hometown in 1973.  All of the pieces were there in a river bed, except for a few of the tail bones.  Our guide was very eager to show us this exhibit.

This horse was discovered by local farmers in the 1930's.  it was part of hundreds of other

 horses and chariots buried in a tomb.  The locals were about to melt theses statues down to make bullets for fighting against the Germans, but some scholars begged them not to because of their historical value.  This is the most famous one of the horses and it has traveled to museums all over the world. It is also the trademark symbol for Johanna's province. 

So after our history lessons we went to eat lunch at Pizza Hut.  Oh boy was it good.  David said I think this is our first meal in a week without a Lazy Susan.  If you've been to China you'll understand.

This is a view from out our hotel room.  During the day it's not much to look at but at night it is very pretty.  Doesn't beat the view from the side of the crib though.