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Friday,
August 31, 2007
We are all restless sleepers last night, still acclimating to
the time zone. There are mostly Europeans staying at this hotel,
and this morning at breakfast there were two adoptive families
in the dining room with their new daughters. This got me a bit
emotional, realizing that will be us in just a few more days.
Our guide picked us up at 8 a.m. and we went to the state-run
jade store, then the Great Wall. Luke walked a portion of it
himself! It wasn’t as hot as we thought it might be, but we were
all dripping in no time. We should have charged money for all
the pictures Luke posed for with other tourists. The Chinese all
comment on his eyes.
We then went to the Friendship Store/cloisonné factory for
lunch. Lunch was very western Chinese food which Jenny
apologized for in advance. After lunch came the Summer Palace.
Absolutely beautiful and overwhelming, hard to describe in
words. Grammy either looks really nice or really gullible
because two different hawkers would not leave her side.
Our whirlwind Friday ended at a Chinese acrobat show. We felt
bad going there all wilted and stinky from the day’s touring,
but the show was well worth it. Luke didn’t really enjoy the
show, as the poor guy was exhausted. Traffic was horrible
everywhere we went and we were happy to get back to the hotel
for a quiet dinner, much-needed bath, and then bed. One more
marathon day of touring Beijing tomorrow. We have never seen so
many construction cranes. Beijing is an amazing city with great
energy. Lance says it reminds him of Houston during the boom in
the 1970’s, only much bigger.
A hui hou,
Lx3 & D |
Just starting the climb of the Great Wall
Lance and Dolores earning their hero cards
Fabulous lunch (NOT!) |
