Well we made it to Beijing! YEAH!! We got in last night about 10:00. Our flight from Narita to here was great. It was on ANA - All Nipon Air. They have cameras that show the runway when we were taking off and landing. That was cool. They also had individual tv screens in the seat in front of each of us. We could have watched movies, played games, watched the news, or listen to music. I started watching Harry Potter but got tired so I slept.
Today we toured the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. We also went to a store called the Friendship Store. That is where you can make purchases of tourist type goods. We got to The Great Wall and our guide Peter said there are two sides to this section. The left side is the steep one and the right is more mellow. He thought all of us could make it to the top from the left one. I had serious doubts about my ability... and those doubts increased as we went. Joanne and I split up about a quarter of the way up. She kept up with the in shape members of the group and I didn't. LOL I took alot of breaks but I made it to the top! I think I got there about a 1/2 hour after Joanne. Going down was interesting too. Some of the incline was pretty steep, close to or over 45 degrees. I used the Camcorder here Reenie! Thanks. And let me apologize to all that will watch it. I am not very good at it yet. Just gave Joanne a lesson and practice so that when they put Elizabeth in my arms, she will be able to film it. After the Wall we went to The Friendship Store and I found some neat things... so did Joanne. Then we went to the Tombs. It was very interesting. Large carved stone animals protecting the 13 different tombs for the Emporers of the Ming
Dynasty. We didn't see the tombs but walked the Sacred Path I think it was called. Then we came back to the Peace Hotel. We are going out to dinner with the group soon. Its about 5:30 pm on the 22nd - which is about 3:30 am for you guys on the 22nd.
Happy Birthday Madeline Rose Kerkvliet - Hope your Birthday was a smash! Can't wait to talk to you when I get home. (Kevin please forward this post to Jim, thanks)
Well lots of love to all of you. Thanks again for the good wishes. Tomorrow we will be in Nanchang. Still not sure if we will be getting the girls tomorrow evening or Monday morning. Just like delivery, can't nail done the exact time.
Take care - will email again soon.
Joan and Joanne
Arriving at the Beijing Airport
At the base of the Great Wall
The Great Wall
The Forbidden City
No comments:
Post a Comment