Hello and Happy Easter!

Its 5am Sunday here, legs are sore from the climbing, touring, and exploring  Beijing yesterday!

We met up with 7 other families that are here to adopt as well and are with our agency, including our new friends Matt and Laura that shared the plane ride with us, and we all hopped on a bus at 8:30am ready for a full day.

Our first stop was a jade factory. Mar’s eyes lit up and it took every bit of self control for her not to buy anything and maybe a little coaxing from me. Everything seemed a little over priced and I assured her we would score some deals in Guangzhou. We better or I’m gonna hear about it.

Second stop, The Great Wall! Although it was a little chilly, we stretched out and started marching. It was awesome! The last time we were here, August 2005, it was just too hot to explore. This time we were able to tackle a good part of it. We joined up with another couple, Kevin and Kelly from Kentucky as well, and took on the east section. Most people head up the west part of this wall so we were able to avoid the chaos and crowds by choosing this side. We were stopped by quite a few people on the way that requested to take their pictures with us, especially the blonds Mar and Kelly. At one point, Kevin and I started talking about pimping them out (just for pictures, people!) charging everyone a dollar, “step right up! Take your photo with some hot blond American girls”! We would have made some pretty good beer money and Mar would have been famous!

With shaky legs, we crawled back on the bus and were told we were headed for some place to have lunch. Mar and I had worked up quite an appetite so were excited until we pulled in the parking lot. Oh no, I recognize this place and we starved the last time we were here. Let’s just say the cuisine was a little exotic. So Mar and I decided to be troopers, wiped away our frowns, and headed in as I secretly stashed a bag of fruit snacks in my pocket. We sat down to a Dim Sum style lunch and the plates started coming. To our surprise, nothing to crazy, some chicken and pork dishes, noodles, rice, soup, it was all very delicious. This restaurant is tied to a huge cloisonné shop. Mar again was chomping at the bit to drop some converted American dough! I assured her we would find some good deals in Guangzhou. We better or I’m REALLY gonna hear about it!

Bellies full, we headed out for The Summer Palace. Mar and I had been here before on first trip but don’t remember it being quite this crazy. It’s a holiday weekend here in China so lots of people were out and it was crowded. Check out the videos and keep your ears open, hear those birds? No, those aren’t birds. They are these annoying slide whistle thingys that after 2 hours my normal laid back, easy going, and very calm personality was on edge. Needless to say, I didn’t get one to bring home for Laine.

We got back to the hotel around 7:30pm. Mar has acquired a cold here and being out in the wind all day didn’t help it, so she rested in the room while I went out to find dinner. There is was, with its gleaming, bright, pretty red lights…..Pizza Hut Baby!! I know we’ve only been here a couple days, but I broke down. It’s hard to have to shovel down Chinese food for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. The pizza wasn’t good but it was good enough. I tried a bottle of Chinese Cabernet I picked up at the 7-11 hoping that would make it better. I’ll be sticking to Chinese beer. Mar took some vitamins and we tucked in early about 8:30.

Up at 4am…

Today 6 out of the 8 families in our group head out to their provinces to receive their children. The other family left, Matt and Laura, and us leave tomorrow. They have arranged a tour of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Olympic village this afternoon for us.  As much fun as we’re having, we are counting down till Tuesday, when we get Lyric! J

Eat some peeps and color some eggs, happy Easter folks!

Hugs and kisses,

Doug