Beijing Day 1

We spent the day touring Beijing with two other Gladney couples.  One couple is from Cincinnati and the other is from far south Louisiana.  Sweet people with similar stories.  We are becoming tight quickly. 

We went to Tian An Men Square , the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and ended the day with a Kung Fu show.  It was busy but helpful to fight jet lag.  

I think Jennifer and I enjoyed the Forbidden City the most.  It just goes on and on and on.  Each gate crossed seems to open a whole new vista of buildings.  The place is even surrounded by a moat.  The moat was frozen but it is a real moat.  The Temple of Heaven was beautiful.  Sad due to the misdirection but still interesting.  It is round and built without one nail.  Wow.  Tian An Men Square was interesting because of the historical settings.  Who could forget the man stopping the tank?  When there, you have a chance to see the crystal coffin of Chairman Mao.  An elderly lady was openly weeping in line.  

Beijing is an interesting city that is teeming with over 17 million residents and growing all the time.  Not as crowded as I expected, very clean (not the air) and the traffic isn't too bad. 

Today, we go see the Great Wall amongst the snowflakes and rain.  We are all wearing long johns and still expecting to freeze.  My Texan blood just doesn't run that thick.  Plus we get to drive by several of the Olympic venues and see an acrobatic show.  Should be another fun day.  Best of all, it means we are one day closer to Abby!