The night before we just got into the airport, and we were happy that the exchange charge on our US dollars was very low with the maximum exchange rate. Our taxi driver was struggling trying to find our bnb in this mountain city, and the next morning, after some much needed rest, we walked around old Jiufen street to familiarize ourselves with our location. There was rain for Dayyyzzz with some specs of hope that the clouds would break, and that we would see sunlight. But that never happened. We were amazed by the intricate temples that peaked their way through the fog as well as the homeless dogs looking for scraps. As we made our way through the many staircases that could train you for the Manitou Incline, we began to familiarize ourselves with Jiufen’s culture and stopped by a hillside restaurant to get lunch. Alejandro was able to order us some food with the simple action of pointing and saying “Zhège (this one)”. Happily, we began to eat our unknown yet great tasting food with Alejandro mistaking oranges for lemons, hence asian lemons or oranges as most people would call them. After some nonverbal payment we hit the street market. Various smells, both good and bad, shops, and food caught our attention for places we need to buy something from. We also managed to find our way to the tea house that inspired the bathhouse in Spirited Away that we will visit sometime this week, among a couple of other sites that our host pointed out were in the movie. The out of shape Alejandro and Brian made their way back to the house to take nap. When we woke up, it was time for dinner. We went back to this place that we eyeballed in our first run around the city that had glazed ribs and other meaty delights. To our surprise as when we sat down none of it was on the menu handed to us. Sad day. We ended up ordering a few things off the menu including some pork bao and jiaozi (dumplings). Our lack of language came into play once again when the waitress asked us if we wanted steamed or fried dumplings, and she ended up getting us both because we had no idea what she was saying (We only knew because we pieced it together after she left). The meal ended and we were glazed ribless and pork baoless (they forgot our buns). But as we walked back to our homey two story bnb, Alejandro embraced a few stray puppies outside our door. Emotionally attached, we had to say goodbye and close the door on their cute faces. End Day 1.
