Bye Bye Beijing

Our last day in Beijing was a marathon day. We rode rickshaws through the hutongs (local neighborhoods) had lunch at the home of a lovely Chinese lady (Sam, if you are reading this and can send me her name I would appreciate it), went to the official governement tea house for tea ceremony and tasting. Jack is now a full-time tea drinker along with Mike and I.

We also visited the summer palace of the emperor and took a ride in the man-made lake. Afterwards it was off to the zoo to see the pandas, and finally the silk street market to buy 7000 dvd's for our 2 day train trip.

It was so jampacked with information that I can't think of one thing to focus on. So I'll let the pictures do the talking.

It is worth mentioning though that shopping in this part of the world is a full-contact sport. When we went to visit the Great Wall we passed many stalls selling everything from apricots to magic t-shirts (they disappear in the wash). These vendors are tiny comando ninja warrior women who will physically impede your progress as they shout words in English at you. "Hello...banana...lady...apricot teeshirt.....you nut...lady apricot... 3 dolla....lady banana lady..."

I just shouted back the only Chinese words I know. It went something like this...."Hello no....beer...coffe....lady hat.. please no...thank you gooodmorning...."

I think we had a moment.