May 15, 2011

We are off the train!!! Good thing because we had too much pent-up energy to have lasted much longer.

After arriving in Beijing, we took a minibus (dirty rickety van) to our hotel, which is quite extravagant compared to prior accommodations: it even  includes a modern bathroom facility in our 9th floor room. The hotel also is well-located relative to major sights.

After recuperating from our train and van rides, we spent 4 hours walking around the Forbidden City. We managed to use substantial amounts of the pent-up energy referenced above.  At the same time, given the sun beating down on the stonework at the city, we consumed vast amounts of water.  

The Forbidden City is actually a city with multitudes of palaces and gardens.  The woodwork and stonework are phenomenal.  With names like "The Gate of National Prosperity," "Palace of Peace and Harmony," "Hall of Imperial Peace," "Palace of Gathering Excellence," what is not to love about the moments spent in these places.   The gardens were rejuvenating; we felt much younger  after walking in the blazing sun for hours.

We returned to our hotel to refresh ourselves (take a shower after the 2 showerless nights and 3 Purell-filled days
We then went back out for further hours of walking as we sought a "real" Chinese restaurant.  We located a restaurant that appeared to be frequented by locals. While we had tasty sedate meals (Claire has mastered the art of eating with chopsticks), we did have the opportunity to view the meal options prepared from live fish, live frogs and pickled snakes.  We left the restaurant thinking that we had seen it all as it relates to food, but, oh, how mistaken we were.

As we walked back, we went through a decorated gate and found ourselves in "real" China.  Food offerings included live scorpions, seahorses, starfish, beetles, squid, and reptiles on a skewer. People were actually eating these delicacies!  Then there were the more traditional mussels, dumplings and candied fruit.  We took pictures since our appetites had already been satisfied in the restaurant.

We returned to the hotel where we had mango juice, jujube juice (tastes like a plum/date mixture) and celebrated Paul's passing his dental hygiene boards.  

We are looking forward to trekking on the Great Wall tomorrow using the great skills we honed on  Mt Everest.