Postcards from Beijing

It was a good day in Beijing.  We were blessed with relatively warm  though in the shade and when the wind whipped our cheeks were red from the cold.  We hired a private Guide to take us around the city.  Summer was awesome.  He whipped us through many of the tourist attractions.  We started off at Congress Hall where 8,000 of China's government officials meet.  Then it was on to Tianamen Square pronounced T-A-Men.  The largest public square in the world.  Then into the Forbidden City.  So beautiful!  Afterwards we headed to the Silk Factory.  Now that was cool!  So amazing to see how they are able to pull the silk threads from the cocoons.  So strong too!  Lunch was in order next a little beef stir fry and so steamed rice. Food here is pretty dirt cheap.  Last night my giant bowl of noodles was only $3 though nothing like Ramen noodles.  Better!  The Temple of Heaven was next.  The complex consist of two temples of which one is large and the other is small and the final stop is an alter to heaven.  Our last stop of the day was the Chinese Acrobat Show.  I think Frank just about had a heart attack when 8 motorcycles entered the globe cage.  The 12 girls on one bicycle was pretty amazing too!  Despite the air quality being pretty bad and the traffic is pretty crazy, my general impression of Beijing is that it is a very clean city and the people are pretty friendly. Even the famous squatty toilets are not so bad, but one tip you need to know before you go into a stall is that the roll of toilet paper is on the wall as you enter the bathroom, so you better grab your toilet paper first. We are exhausted!  It is time for bed.  Tomorrow it is on to the Great Wall of China!