Off to a new city, Suzhou. This is my last stop before Shanghai and home. Whenever you read travel descriptions of the Shanghai area, you are introduced to the “Water Towns”. We have seen this before, most notably in Shaoxing. The towns are just laced with canals. One can imagine that most of the commerce was carried on the canals. They have a very different feel from Venice. They are certainly much much smaller. I can’t come up with the right word but in China the canals have really been pushed to the side. Two water towns in this area get the most press, Tongli and Zhouzhuang, or rather they were recommended by Ed, the proprietor at Skywells and one of the few people to answer my requests for help.
So the idea was to stay in Suzhou and visit the water towns as day trips. There are places to stay in the water towns and everyone talks about how wonderful it is to be in town after the day trippers all leave. I guess the argument that won out was that this way I got to see two towns and besides I think Ed may have suggested the idea.
The great thing about travel is that the idea changes. I take subway in Hongzhou quick train to Suzhou (more on that in a moment) and then subway to hotel. I’m using the GPS and it takes me through a pedestrian shopping square and finally I find the hotel hidden down the street. It is modern, tall, but I think a little older. For some reason I have the presence of mind to ask the lady checking me in where I could rent a bike. I’m able to explain the whole idea of a road bike and not a yellow bike connected to the computer bike share outside. She believes there is a bike shop just down the main road. As soon as I can get it together, off I go.
I have some trouble finding the shop. I have a vague memory of pushing on and on, but maybe I had the GPS working. In any event, finally the bike store and the manager is called and can speaks some english. He clearly does not have a bike rental business but he makes it up. He gets a bike out. He cuts the lock off it. The bike fits me. He really does not rent helmets and bike locks but I buy the helmut and he provides the lock.
I put all this in here because instead of a lot of water towns, I got to ride a bike!