We climbed the mountain…

After our early start, we were starving by breakfast!  The hotel breakfast had donuts, OJ that tasted like Tang, and plenty of the good old american eggs, bacon, and cereals to keep us happy…plus congee, lo mien noodles, fried rice, and dragon fruit!  Mrs. Li marched us off to the Great Wall today.  What an awe inspiring sight.  To think it spans about 6,000 miles over these rugged mountaintops, and it was built stone by stone centuries ago.  We climbed straight up steps that make Rocky look like a real wimp, but coming back down was even more scary.

Photos from today

(If you can't see the Flash slideshow above, click here.)

Then off to lunch and a stop at the Jade Factory! We watched the master carvers turn dirt covered brown lumps into white and green works of art.  All the boys picked out a jade piece to match their chinese zodiac year; Christopher, dragon; Alex, snake; Wil, monkey (All so fitting, no?)  Anna Mei was not forgotten, and scored a jade pendant representing the ox, her birth sign.  We could not resist the temptation, and a new smiling buddha will bring love, luck and prosperity to all that visit our home and rub his tummy (Buddha's, not Chris's).

On to the Summer Palace, where Wil did NOT buy into the idea of "no rest for the weary".  In his defense, he is fighting a sinus infection since the plane ride, and it was about 3 AM back on US time.  While others walked along the lake, Wil and Mom rested on a rock enjoying the scene.  We made a few friends as the locals here have no hesitation about walking up and asking to take pictures with us, especially the boys!  Alex was the star today, as he gained the attention of quite a few young giggling chinese girls which had no problem coming up and asking him to take a picture. That is not to say Chris and Wil were left alone. I think most of their stranger "picture counts" today were above 5.

We thought we'd drop when Mrs. Li pulled into the silk factory, but we are thrilled we did!  Two silk comforters and a chinese silk outfit for an older Anna Mei later, we walked out knowing how the silk worm grows, makes a cocoon and dies in 25 days leaving a single silk thread that can stretch out the length of one mile. Very cool.

We had to hurry back to the hotel as Ed and Debi from Philly were supposed to meet their son for the first time at the hotel tonight, but traffic did not cooperate.  A LONG ride through insane traffic, a 2 minute stop to take a photo of the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, and they arrived a bit late for "Charlie" and his caregivers.  It was amazing to witness the beginning of a new family, knowing that Monday we would be doing the same.

One note about the photos, you will notice we had to travel as far as Beijing to find nice weather.  It was "sunny" and about 68 degrees all day.  Notice the sky in our photos.  That is as sunny as it gets here.  That is a permanent smog settled over the city.  Mrs. Li mentioned that all factory work was shut down for days before the Olympic games to let the sky clear up.  As soon as the games ended, it was back to business and polluted airways. Craziness!

Thrilled to be back at the hotel, but knowing we had to eat, Chris ran to one of the many KFC's we have seen in China while we showered up for bed.  Worst KFC food we have ever had, but best choice for tonight.  Everyone collapsed in exhaustion (leaving me in peace to write this).  Tomorrow: Tian An Men Square, the Forbidden City, and an afternoon to ourselves to enjoy the hotel pool and indoor tennis court.  One Day until Anna Mei.