Beijing - Day 1

[joek...@insightbb.com]

Or as Susan our guide called it...devil's bootcamp, because it is such
a long day intended just to keep us awake. It almost worked.
Everytime we got onto the bus I think half the group fell asleep. We
came back to the hotel and talked about walking down the street for a
bite at a local resturant, but I think everyone opted out. Choosing
instead to head back to the room for some much needed rest. Rene' is
already asleep and I'm very close to it.

Today was site seeing and shopping day. We visited the Great Wall,
I've posted some video of our climb at the link below,
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=aff38f8bfa57c75d8082

and walked through the emperors Summer Palace. Both are very
beautiful sites although much more time is needed to truly appreciate
all that is housed at either location. We had a great time and
enjoyed the weather, beautiful day - much different than last time
when it was blistering hot - so much so that Beth Moore and her
daughter Lucy (7 at the time) both went down with heat stress and had
to be helped out of the summer palace - and the sites, both locations
are incredibly picturesque.

The rest of the day was spent trudging through the Jade factory, Pearl
factory, and the Friendship shop - all government run and designed to
get you to spend big. They're a little annoying but an understandable
part of the trip. I'm sure I was a little more impatient at these
sites today because we had been to the same thing before.

More tomorrow. We had a little camera glitch today so my photos
aren't that great but I'll put up a couple anyway. Check out the God
Tube link and let me know if it's working.

Love to all,

Joe

[Cookieman]

Based on experience with this day last time, I agree with Susan!!!! I
will run video at work. Connection is too slow here at the
Shelbyville estate. Love, Robin

On Sep 1, 9:19 am, joekm...@insightbb.com wrote:
> Or as Susan our guide called it...devil's bootcamp, because it is such
> a long day intended just to keep us awake. It almost worked.
> Everytime we got onto the bus I think half the group fell asleep. We
> came back to the hotel and talked about walking down the street for a
> bite at a local resturant, but I think everyone opted out. Choosing
> instead to head back to the room for some much needed rest. Rene' is
> already asleep and I'm very close to it.
>
> Today was site seeing and shopping day. We visited the Great Wall,

> I've posted some video of our climb at the link below,http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=aff38f8bfa57c75d8082