Finally we make it to Tomsui

 A much cooler day today at least in our neighborhood.  I was thinking it would be cooler by the water and I had made a mistake wearing shorts.  But it was not

Our biggest surprise on arriving at Tomsui was that so many people on our metro line were all going there.  And when we got there it was very crowded.  It turned out that Taiwan celebrated Children on Thursday and Friday.  The streets by the water were packed with people and all the food vendors were out.  When Michael and I were here in 2017 we basically had the place to ourselves.

Caricature row.

The "No" sign is quite extensive!

A local stops to ask - why are you taking a photo of that sign?

We walk some streets distant to the crowded streets close to the water and find a small Taiwanese restaurant.  We kept trying to find one with a table for four open.  Alex walked to the back area to check and said there were none.  So we started walking away.  As I turn to leave the owner motions to me - wait!  He is going to find a spot for us.  This is not the first time it has happened.  He moved some people to other tables and found four stools for us on a shared table with two women.  So we went back in.  We have had to order from pictures often here - always a bit of a gamble - as you have no idea what is in the dish.  I had beef curry noodle soup which I though was very flavorful.  Michael had the same dish with lamb and the kids had regular ramen.  All were content.  

Where we had lunch.

Heading back to the water front and the crowds.

I am not sure what this is.  He was folding and refolding what looked like dough in crushed peanuts or maybe it was some other nut 

Selling seafood like clams and oysters.

This place was advertised to be for family gambling!

A desert made with a waffle batter and shaped in the forms below.  Many different types of fillings.

Grilled squid anyone!  This is a very popular street snack.

More fried squid and other seafood.

This is something they would carry in a parade.  Maybe the celebration included a parade.

Jojo was wanting ice-cream and we finally found it.  In a lot of countries in Asia - the ice cream is sold like this.  There were four sets of machines. The most popular was the chocolate or vanilla or a combination of the two.  I got mango and strawberry - not so popular.  And next to it the Taro and something else - maybe red bean - no one was getting that!  The flavors were all slightly off from what we get in the States.  The kids had chocolate and vanilla and said it tasted weird.  But everyone finished the cones!

I saw this girl waiting in line for ice cream.  It reminded me of the 60's.  I have seen the "bangs in a curler" look before.  Once on someone on the metro.  I am not sure if it is a style or just getting ready for a later event.

Singing for money!

We have not seen a lot of tour groups in Taipei.  This is the first one complete with a guide waving something and a huge crowd of people following him - just like they stepped off a cruise ship!

One last photo before we head home.  The day would not be complete with a boat photo.