Due to our, er, large group, we were required to take 2 taxis to the airport. Erica, Miranda, Lincoln and M.L.I.S. got in the first taxi. 10 minutes later Ed and the boys caught another taxi. Ed and the boys arrived at the airport, but M.L.I.S. and the rest did not. They were sitting in an alley. They had no idea why they were sitting in a taxi in an alley. The poor English-challenged driver could not explain to them why and our poor Chinese-challenged Canadians could not ask. So they sat. And sat. Finally a man came out of an apartment building and the two taxi drivers traded places and away we went to the airport. Shift change perhaps? We enjoyed a thrilling race with another taxi on the freeway. Our driver finally gave up and slowed down to a more reasonable speed of 120 km. We arrived about 15 minutes after the boys even though we left 10 minutes before. Needless to say, Edward was getting antsy. And our taxi driver charged us 25 yuan more than Edward's too.
More Gender Discrimination eh, Harmony?
Beijing is a city of about 14 million people. It has 6 ring roads. Ring roads are beltways that go around the city. Our hotel was on the fourth ring road. That's one big city.
We first visited Tianamen Square. Security was tight.
We toured the Forbidden City.
And the Temple of Heaven.
The Chinese love an irregular rock surface. They are supposed to repel bad spirits. (This one is in the Forbidden City.)
And the Summer Palace.
The Summer Palace is supposed to be good "feng shui" - a place where water, trees and mountains meet. Well, they dug the lake and piled the dirt up to make a mountain and planted trees everywhere. It was beautiful.
This is the marble boat. The boat represents the Emperor and the lake represents the people of China. It is said that "the waters that float the boat can also swallow it", implying that the people can support the emperor but can also topple him."
We toured the Hutongs in rickshaws.
And the silk factory. In this picture we are helping to make a silk duvet, which is essentially silk cocoons stretched and layered to make a "batt". It is then put in a cover and placed on your bed. We bought one and I like it as much as or more than my down duvet.
Ahhh, this post is getting kind of long so we'll save some for tomorrow.
4 comments:
It does sound a little suspicious, but not as bad as the tailor! Love all your pictures and stories. Thanks for sharing!
Your family has had such an amazing adventure and education through this trip. I think its fabulous that you were able to do it all together. What a memory you will have.
Your family has had such an amazing adventure and education through this trip. I think its fabulous that you were able to do it all together. What a memory you will have.
The silk bat stretching looks fun. Your ride to the airport does not sound like fun.
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