Day #2- Sightseeing

Saturday was our day for sightseeing in Beijing. We were up early for breakfast at the hotel's breakfast buffet, then we all loaded a bus for Tienamen Square, our first stop for the day. On our way to TS, we passed by the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube Olympic venues, and the Olympic Park. They are huge! Too bad we didn't get to tour them, but there wasn't enough time. TS is just like I remember it from the last time- huge, crowded, and people staring at us like we have 3 heads. Our guide Jessie told us that people from all over China make the pilgrimage to Beijing to see TS and the Forbidden City, and many of them may never have seen "foreigners" before, and they are very curious. Also, in American culture it is considered rude to stare, but not in Chinese culture, so it made us feel uncomfortable but they don't mean anything by it. So anyway, before you enter the FC there is an opportunity to have a group photo taken that will be ready for pick-up when you exit. Our group wanted a photo, so as the photographer was trying to herd us into position (there were 30+ of us), we were attracting a lot of attention. We were laughing and the crowd was laughing, and when the photographer took our picture, many of the onlookers took our picture, too! It was pretty funny.

We entered the Forbidden City, and I now know what cattle feel like when they are herded into the truck to go the the slaughter house. Even our guides commented on how crowded it was, so for them to say that really means something! We were unable to really get close enough to see anything because of the huge crowds gathered around any artifacts, and nobody explained what we were seeing or the symbolism involved, because they couldn't be heard. About halfway in, one of our group members became ill, and our guides were going fast to get her out. That meant that the rest of us were rushing to keep up, and in constant terror of getting lost. If you stopped for anything or you couldn't make your way through the crowd, when you looked up everyone was gone! I put Makenna on Bernie's shoulders early in the tour because I was in mortal fear of losing her, and I was seriously relieved when we arrived at the exit. I feel bad for everyone who hasn't been there before, because they didn't really get to see much or experience the FC like Bernie and I did the last time we came to China. It is really a fantastic place, and I'm sure we'll go there again when we come back to do a Heritage Tour!

After leaving the FC, we stopped at a Peking Duck restaurant for a wonderful Chinese meal. Each dish was more delicious than the last! They carve the duck in a certain way, then you put it on a paper-thin pancake with strips of onion and celery and sauce, then fold it like a fajita and eat it. It is fantastic!! Also, the restaurant was Mom's first experience with a "squatty potty". She wasn't thrilled with it, but at least she didn't fall in and I think she got the job done. Now she really has something to tell her friends about- it's all part of the "full China experience"!!!

Our next stop was the Great Wall of China. By this time, the humidity was extremely thick and rain was threatening. You couldn't see the mountains until we were almost into them, and really couldn't see the Great Wall in all it's full glory, but it is definitely something to behold! Bernie, Makenna and I walked up a little way. Makenna was mad because she expected Bernie to carry her all the way to the top!! He went as far as he could, then they came back down. The GW is a very challenging climb, because it is very steep and the steps are very uneven. We were given plenty of time to wander around and do a little shopping. There are some beautiful gardens on the grounds, and it wasn't crowded at all like the FC was. You could see anything that you wanted as long as you wanted. It is really something to see in person something that was being built 2000 years ago, when my ancestors were still living in caves! The Chinese really have a lot of spectacular culture that they should be very proud of! Just as we were leaving, the clouds opened up and poured on us. A few of our group got soaked, but we were already on the bus enjoying the air conditioning (spoiled Americans!!). We went back to the hotel, had dinner and went to bed-we had a 4am wake-up call for the next morning because we were leaving for Guangzhou at 8am the next morning!!

Brody, your family is coming for you!!!!!!!