... that we went to Taiwan: Day 2

The next day, we took a trip to Monkey Mountain!

 

There were signs everywhere that said "Do Not Feed the Monkeys," but do you think that would stop Sister Blickenstaff?? The housekeeper (yes, they have a housekeeper) had cut up a GIGANTIC bag full of carrot sticks and Cutter was literally throwing handfulls of them at the small band of ravenous little monsters. One of them took a swipe at poor Fin while she was trying to feed them, so she was a little more wary.

So fun! And just up the street from the monkeys was a temple where they just happened to be having some sort of festival, which included a parade, food stands, incense, and even a dancing/sword fighting performance.
 

Chinese architecture is so beautiful! On our way back past the food trucks, Matt spotted this stand that was selling snails. Yes, snails.



The guy was selling them by the cupfull. DISGUSTING. Matt spent 5 minutes trying to ask the guy if he could buy just one snail, and the guy kept trying to sell him a whole cup. Finally, mom explained that he wanted to try just one, and the guy gave in. And Matt sucked the tiny snail right out of that disgusting shell. Did I mention disgusting?
 

Matt said it wasn't that bad.

After a quick stop for some real lunch, we met up with a friend of mom and dad's who wanted to get us into a children's museum for the kids...

And, also for Matt.

We had fun messing around for a little bit and I was reunited with an old friend:

The Squatter. Took me right back to high school when our jazz choir traveled to China. Good times!

We ran back home and then ventured out again to get some dinner from "this great Chinese place we eat at all the time."
 

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It was actually pretty good though hahaha. We decided we hadn't had enough adventuring, so after the kids were down, the Rexs and Harrisons went out again in search of... more treats. We found this stand that had a huge line in it, so whatever it was HAD to be good! It ended up being basically a sweet roll with a pad of butter in it the size of a sheet of paper... so pretty good! We also rounded out the night with some gelato.
 

We love all the food!!!