China-Beijing

So I arrived with the family in Beijing a few days ago, and so far I can tell you it is super crowded, hot, humid, exciting and impossible to drive without feeling like you are going to run someone over or be run over as a pedestiran! In short I love it. The city itself isn't exactly beautiful, but I am just in awe that I am actually in China! First day we saw the Forbidden City (not that forbidden as we were surrounded by about 10,000 people at all times!) and Tienanmen Square. The line to see Mao's tomb reached around the building and stretched all the way around the block, it was an incredible sight. At one point I stopped to buy something and lost the family-- I was sure I was going to have to join the national guard and take up residence here because in these crowds it is impossible to find anyone! Luckily I spotted them and a national incident was avoided... The places were cool, but the most shocking thing was the bathroom. I was prepared for dirty toilets, but I wasn't prepared for NO toilets! If you can imagine a urinal bolted to the floor, that's basically the toilet situation here. Stinky and not too fun, needless to say I will probably faint of dehydration one of these days, because I refuse to drink anything outside the hotel! Haha.

The next day we climbed the Great Wall. Now, that was awesome. I can't believe I have actually been on the Great Wall! There were tons of people and we were super sweaty so that was an experience, and it was really steep and quite a hard climb, something I didn't anticipate so I did it in flip flops! Then we did some sightseeing at the Ming tombs where we ignored the signs and climed all over the relics, then headed home for dinner. We had no idea of where to go so we were basically left by the taxi on the side of the road, then we had to cross the road. OK, I really don't know how to describe the drivers here other than just like those in Argentina, except here they don't stop. Ever. I am serious. We all watched, horrified, as our guide was pretty much run into by a car as he crossed the street, while the light was green for him to go! The car just didn't stop. Crazy. Anyway we made it, but it was a harrowing ordeal!

Today we went to the Gate of Heaven, where we first wakled through a park where people were playing games, tango dancing, waltzing, playing instruments, practicing opera, you name it they were out there doing it! Then we went to a market where we bought all sorts of goods-I got a pearl necklace for about 15 bucks and a Le Sportsac bag for 9 dollars. But the haggling it took, my god I was exhausted by lunchtime! Then we ended the day with a ride on a rickshaw. Highlights of the ride included Bar Street, a street literally lined with about 60 bars, and a tour of a typical house in the area-no indoor bathroom, they use a communal toilet and shower outside. Really different from home! Tomorrow we are on to Xi'an, where I am going to get a massage that I hear is going to be out of this world. Can't wait!