Friday adventures

We got in late yesterday and I was really tired so I didn't get a chance to update everyone with our touring adventures for Friday until now.  Yesterday we met with the rest of the travel group, I believe there are 14 families total, bright and early at 9am, Ok, maybe not so bright and early.  Anyway, we went to the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square.  The Forbidden City is incredible, the history, the design, everything about it is really amazing.  After we all walked what seemed like 10 miles, we got to our bus which was parked across the street.  You'd have to experience China traffic to understand.  Trust me it was much safer to take several underground tunnels than to just walk across the street.  Especially if you value living, which I do.  So after these tours we had lunch at a local Chinese restaurant.  The food was really good, but I would really compare it more to American style Chinese than traditional.  I pretty much knew what everything was and didn't have to ask Ed if I would like it, if that gives you any indication.  Anyone that knows me knows I am not the least bit adventurous when it comes to food.  So then we were off to tour the Silk Factory.  This is a government run place so it's kinda like a requirement to tour.  Really nice stuff though, saw how they turn webbing from the silk worm into silk duvets.  It's actually comes from basically their spit, so when you think of it that way, not so nice.  But hey, when you are sleeping on silk sheets or wearing a soft silk shirt you don't think of it that way.  Next stop, acrobat show.  These kids were awesome!!  I think this is the same group that was going to come to Richardson Eisemann Center last year.  If not them, then similiar style.  We bought a DVD to remember, so show and tell when we get back.  Unfortunately no photos allowed, bummer.  One of the dads in our group got picked to be in the show.  He was put in this big clay pot while a girl spun him around with him and it on her feet.  Crazy, but cool!!  Final stop, traditional local Chinese dinner.  This was Chinese food, they served Beijing Roast Duck, needless to say I did not eat any of it.  Rice, rice and more rice for me.  Oh, I forgot to mention before the acrobat show, we got to go see Olympic Park.  We didn't walk around much, way to cold, but I did get a couple good shots of The Bird's Nest and a distance shot of The Water Cube.  Tommorow is an early morning, we fly to Zhengzhou, Jiao Jiao's provincial capital, so I will update about Saturday's adventures tomorrow. But I will tell you I almost conquered my fear of heights, ....almost.

 

Until tomorrow..

Love to all,

Ang