handsful

Looks like Randy has successfully fixed our issues, and here we are! Whoop!! On to the rest of our trip…

So, after our visit to the Hutong area, we vistited the silk factory.

 

 See the tiny thread of silk being woven together and pulled up into the spool?  Each cocoon is made from a single silk thread – not strong enough to use on their own.  So, they weave about 6 together to make the thread.

We then had lunch at a traditional Chinese restaurant.  The food was okay, not great.  And, the entertainment was…uh, interesting.  Girls in less than modest costumes dancing to really LOUD music on a stage behind us.  Okie dokie.

Next stop was the Tienamen Square and the Forbidden City.  Even though this was our second time visiting this area, we enjoyed it just as much as the first time.  It’s so large, and the architecture so beautiful – plus, to think of all the history in that place, to imagine the people that have walked those same pathways and courtyards.  It’s really amazing.

 

Our group of adoptive families…most of us are headed to the same province on Sunday.  We’ve met some really nice people on this trip.  The couple to the right of us in the picture, for instance. We discovered that the mom grew up in the town that we now live in – and we found out that we also went to the same college, during the same years, taking the same major, and living on the same floor in the same dorm.  Impossible!  We definitely plan on keeping in touch.

I’m sure the emperor would have frowned on my antics in his courtyard.

Returning to the hotel, we crashed for a little while in the room and almost fell asleep.  It was around 5pm.  Too early for bedtime, so we walked down into the basement of this hotel which leads you to a HUGE upscale mall – (we can afford NOTHING in these boutiques – a cute pair of Lainey size shoes were $100.  I dont’ think so.  Anyway, walk a little further and look down and there is an ice skating rink.  Each night, little Chinese girls take their skating lessons with their very serious coaches critiquing every move.  We found a Subway in the food section, and took sandwiches back to our room.  By about 9:30, we called it a night.

11/27

Up early again, and met the group in the lobby at 8:20.  First stop, jade factory where they walked us through how the turn jade rock into art and jewelry and then we were set free to shop.  Shopping in China is interesting.  If you show even the SLIGHTLY interest in something, there is a sales person beside you urging you to buy.  And, if you do choose to buy that item, they have to take it from you and fill out a purchase ticket.  That item is kept by them and you continue to shop – with the process continuing with each additional item.  It’s a little maddening.

But, I’ll deal with the difficulties if it means I can shop :)

 

Randy makes friends with Mr. Angry Jade Man.

Afterwards, we headed to the Great Wall.  I made it farther than last time, up to the first large tower.  Randy stayed with me this time, rather than flying past me to make it to the top. He figured he did it once, no need to repeat.  It was beyond cold.  I had 4 layers on top, gloves, hat and ear covers and the wind went right through. This time of year, Beijing is just plain COLD.

While at the top, we met two men who were visiting from Turkey. We took a picture for them, and they returned the favor for us. We talked to them a little while about their trip and explained why we were in China. I marvel at little things like that…I’m at the top (almost) of the Great Wall in China, having small talk with travelers from Turkey. I never knew God had little blessings like this in mind for me, but they sure do make me smile.

It’s hard to express in pictures how STEEP these steps are, but this one does a pretty decent job!

Lunch time again, and we went to another restaurant.  This time they brought an innocent looking bottle to the table – we eventually guessed it was Saki wine.  Randy, Kristin, and Thomas were brave and downed a small cup of it.  I heard it felt a little like drinking fire.  Glad I skipped on this one!

Loading up on the bus again, we rode to see the Olympics buildings, the Birdsnest and the Watercube. We weren’t allowed inside, but did walk around the areas outside and were able to take a few pictures. Seeing the amazing archtecture of the Olympic arenas was really cool, but the gaggle of giggling girls that came up to us was priceless. They were teenage girls, and came up to us and asked if they could have their picture taken with us. We said sure, so they all huddled up and their friend took the picture. Then, we asked if I could take their picture with Randy and they giggled some more. After I took the picture, Randy told me that one of them told him “you’re cute”. That’s right, little girl, my husband needs his ego built up just a LITTLE bit more! lol… We also had a young man come up to us, obviously thrilled to find Americans he could try his English on. We enjoyed introducing ourselves and having a small, slightly broken, conversation with him.

Randy, the rock star.

Our last stop was the Acrobat show, which we saw last adoption trip but it was much better this time! We bought the DVD video of the show, to show Dylan while we’re here and for the other kids back home. The lady selling them started out asking 95 RMB, but Randy haggled here down to 60. $10. I’m glad he likes to bargain.

We’re loving our trip so far – the only downside has been my bothersome cold and Randy is having sinus issues. We’re praying we’re feeling much better by Dylan-time. :)