Friday

Friday we awoke to a weather report of 100% humidity and 0.1 km visibility. It was a foggy day in Beijing. We were picked up by Phoebe and Mr. Gua, the driver. Driving is an adventure in China. It seems everyone makes their own lane. It gives new meaning to “tear on the dotted line”.
Our first stop was Tian’namen Square. S asked our guide to show him where the student uprising occurred. She responded, “that is not part of our history.” Later he asked her, “Can you show me where the protest DID NOT occur?” 

Next we went to the Forbidden City. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it is amazing that it is still in such good condition and so beautiful.

For lunch we were taken to a local restaurant. The food was quite different than what we are used to. Thank goodness for chicken and rice.

We then headed to the Temple of Heaven, a beautiful park also built during the Qing Dynasty where the emperor would worship the god of the heavens three times a year. S asked more difficult questions, asking our guide what was her religion. She replied, “communist.”

Our last stop was the Summer Palace where the emperor and empress would escape the heat of summer at the Forbidden City. It’s on man-made Kunming Lake. We could not fathom how they dug such a large lake before heavy equipment was invented.

J fell asleep on the way to the Summer Palace. He managed to muster enough energy to wake up and make the walk. He fell back to sleep on the ride back to the hotel. He went straight to bed, missing yet another meal. I had peanut butter cheese crackers and hit the bed. S ordered a hamburger from room service that was questionable.

At midnight, J was wide awake wanting to play his DS. We managed to get him back to sleep for 4 more hours.

Bathrooms are an adventure in China. Most don’t have commodes, only a hole in the ground. There’s a little stick figure picture on the door indicating if it is a western-style toilet or a squatty pottie. There’s usually one toilet paper dispenser at the door when you go in. You take in with you what you think you’ll need. Sean swiped the t.p. from the hotel and brought it with us to the Great Wall.