While I had planned to stay awake on the plane, 3 hours before we landed I decided a few hours of sleep wouldn’t hurt.
While waiting for my panniers at baggage claim, and pondering where to find oversized luggage for the bicycle, my bicycle came up the standard baggage ramp and jammed the carousel. An attendant nearby quickly set it free and at least I avoided the quest of oversized baggage claim.
I had purchased a Taiwanese eSim for my phone in Seattle. I withdrew cash at an ATM in the airport (not my usual practice but recommended by John), and breezed through Customs (although I lost three sticks of beef jerky, as importing beef in any form is restricted in Taiwan).
When I asked for information about a taxi, they walked me out to the taxi stand. The first taxi driver I came to wedged my still-boxed bicycle into the back of his vehicle, and I was on my way.
John met me at the front of his building, good because the taxi driver and I were in an animated “discussion” as the GPS showed John’s address down a one-way street.
John and his wife Heidi have been wonderful hosts. After some discussion of the trip, we all crashed; them up later than usual and me having left home at 4:00 am, arriving here at 10:00 pm (9 am EST) — 29 hours of travel.
This morning I had breakfast with John and Heidi. John headed off to work, and Heidi played tour guide for me!
I’m no expert in European history, but I’m clueless when it comes to Taiwan. Heidi and I took the subway to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, a national monument and tourist attraction erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China.
Chiang Kai-shek was a Chinese military commander who led the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 until his death in 1975. His government was based in mainland China until it was defeated in the Chinese Civil War by Mao Zedong’s Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949, after which he continued to lead the ROC government on the island of Taiwan. The interior includes a statue of him, a history of his presidency, and a number of local art pieces. Supporters credit him with unifying and modernizing the nation. Critics point out cronyism and authoritarianism, and the future of the Memorial Hall is now in doubt.
The square out front includes the National Theater and National Concert Hall.
From there we headed over to the National Maritime Museum. I really enjoy model wooden ships for some reason. We encountered several very enthusiastic docents — definitely there on a low traffic day!
Afterwards, Heidi led me to one of her favorite dumpling places nearby. The food there was spectacular. Heidi had several things to get done today so we return to the apartment. She headed off to her tasks, I spent the time waiting for everyone to return assembling my bicycle.