Exploring Tianjin- The Italian District and Bungee Trampolines

As most of you already know, Saturdays have now become our Go Explore Tianjin Day. We try to see a part of the city we haven't seen yet. Right now that's pretty easy for us as it's all still new to us!

One Saturday a few whirlwind weekends ago we had our driver drop us off at the Italian District. We'd gotten glimpse of the area while running an errand the previous day and we were determined to go back and explore. (This was the Saturday right before the Chinese New Year.)

And….it was c-c-cold! (are you surprised????) I feel I've said that every.single.time we've gone exploring! But it really did feel cold! Really!!! I'm not lying!!!! Maybe we're not used to walking outside so much. Or maybe it's because we don't have all our arctic gear or long underwear (it's coming in the shipment). Or maybe we're just sissies (no,never!!!). Either way the cold is what keeps our explorations short and sweet. It's hard to be excited to see something new when your toes and fingers are as cold as popsicles!

At least the Italian District had Starbucks and lots and lots of restaurants to choose from (and to warm up!!!!). Hooray for warm coffee shops and good food. What caught our eye the previous day were all the outdoor booths that reminded us of Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmarkt) in Austria and Germany. Sadly, none of them were open.

Where are we?????? Are you sure this is China?????

Hmmm….a saxophone playing Santa!!! A little smooth jazz to get his reindeer into the Holiday Spirit?!?

Ummm…are you sure we're in China??? I've seen streets that look like this in Austria!

Watch out girls! Those polar bears probably think you're a tasty snack!

We saw lots of these little shops. Since we were the only people wandering around we assumed that all the shops were closed.

A fantastic lunch of mushroom soup and pizza with ham and mushrooms at an Italian restaurant called Trattoria Italiana.

A cathedral?!?

We didn't quite feel like calling it a day after our short & sweet tour of the Italian District so we stopped at a huge, several story mall that we'd never been to before. (I have absolutely no idea what that mall is called)

Just inside the doors to the mall we saw a super fun looking contraption: a bungee trampoline! Of course the girls HAD to try it out….