Bicycle!

Hello blog friends -- I'm back from my unintended blog break.  I'll skip the excuses (busy grading papers and I've been sick -- first a terrible cough, then an ear infection which is still lingering...let's just say I'm well acquainted with the doctor down the road) and just get back to writing, okay?

True confession: I've always wanted a cruiser bike and to live in a place where I could bike to the market, to the bakery, etc.  Well, today, friends, that dream came true.  Introducing my new bicycle:

isn't she pretty?

As you probably already figured, a lot of people ride bikes in China. There are so many bike riders here -- the bikes range from small foldable ones, electric, rusty and old, scooters, to three wheel bikes with big bins in the back.  Everyone rides bikes here -- everyday I see some elderly person scooting out into traffic without hesitation.  And it's not uncommon to see more than one person on one bike.

And today, I joined this myriad of bike riders. Chris swore he did not want a bike. Not interested.  Wouldn't get used. Too dangerous. He thought it was a crazy thing for me to do (in his defense, I did nearly break my ankle just crossing the street here). How many bikes do you think we bought today?  That's right -- two bikes. Chris's has a child seat on the back for Dag. Dag was, not surprisingly, thrilled beyond belief to ride on the back of his daddy's bicycle.

After nap time today, we headed out for our first adventure.

practicing in our complex before hitting the streets

We went to the market and bought lots of vegetables and fruit to put in our baskets. I also bought ten eggs.  Eight made it home safely (I bring them home all the time on the bus so I thought it would be okay but really, two cracking out of ten isn't so bad, is it?).

Xiamen isn't one of the biggest cities in China but it's home to 2.5 million people so it is crowded and busy.  I was nervous about crossing a couple of streets. We waited patiently for traffic to subside which it really never did.  Eventually I just gathered enough courage to push across.  Biking was actually harder than I anticipated -- there's a lot to look out for with pedestrians, baby strollers, other bikers, scooters, cars, buses, broken sidewalks. But it was really great fun. There are lots of places we'll be able to bike to -- the market, the bakery, the fabric market, grocery stores, parks.  It might even be easier than walking or taking a taxi or bus.

out on the street!

Of course, I think my bike is lovely as is but she needs a little something, don't you agree?  The bag with the red star inside the basket is from Sea Bags, a Maine-based company that makes bags from recycled sails.  I bought it in Camden, Maine two summers ago.  It's nearly a perfect fit but I'm thinking a special liner might be just what this bike needs.  The question is: to make or to buy? Betty Basket Liners are adorable and I'm tempted to ask for one for Christmas.  I could also easily imagine some Heather Ross fabric inside that basket.  Maybe two liners, then?