Tues, 4/24.  Drizzles.  Low clouds.  Views were incredible.  On a non-travel day I took the opportunity to exercise in the morning, then walked along the riverfront.  Strolled through a set of buildings called a Ghost Town, though I honestly don’t know why.  Several large structures on the hill behind with gondola access but I didn’t have time to visit.  Had to be back on the boat by 11, for unknown reasons.

At 12:30, with no notice in the daily bulletin, the boat departed.  The cruise down river was captivating.  The River is in fact no longer a river, but a very, very large reservoir, created just in the last decades.  Tributaries came in on a regular basis (with multiple bridges).  Roads and stairways drop into the water.  Lots of freighters went by.  Beautiful views of cloud-topped hills.  Pagodas.  Etc.

After docking we visited a family that had been displaced by the reservoir construction.  The husband said he felt the government treated everyone generally fairly.  Built a house large enough to become a landlord vice farmer.  Some sadness over the loss of a village with over 1,000 years of history.

Shipboard is not extraordinary.  Pretty standard.  Mostly foreigners.  Service is excellent.

Morning tai chi. The master is also the ship’s doctor. Gave a demonstration on acupuncture too.

Our server. She also performs in the evening show.

Our server again.