Beijing Recap

We're back from an action-packed weekend in Beijing. The solo journey there was made easy with Bob's help at the train station in Shanghai. I'd like to think I could have figured it out on my own, but it was nice to have the peace of mind and know for sure that I was putting myself on the right train. Mike also spoiled me by coming to pick me up at the Beijing train station. (I promise I'm really not that helpless.)

     

                   FYI, this is how people stand in line to buy
train tickets.

You try figuring out the
gate number.

The highlights:

• The Great Wall. As planned, we got up at 5:30 a.m. and drove a little more than an hour to reach a touristy section of the Great Wall. Much to our dismay, we were not the first ones there, and the crowds had already begun forming. I use "climb" here, because one doesn't walk the Great Wall. It's an ancient StairMaster with uneven stairs (some maybe 20 inches high) and steep slopes. We made it quite far -- mostly because we were trying to get away from the crowds -- and took breaks to drink water, eat a few snacks we had packed, and admire the view. Unfortunately, the day was overcast, but it didn't take away from the wonderment of the Great Wall. I feel quite fortunate to have
  experienced it. 

• Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Although we had had a pretty serious workout by 10:00 a.m., we continued the day at these must-see tourist destinations. The heat and crowds were a bit overwhelming at this point, not to mention the fact that our legs felt like jello. 

• Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant. Dinner there Saturday night was an awesome reward that exceeded expectations. We ordered half a duck, though we agreed we could have eaten a whole one had we not ordered other dishes (which were also fantastic, but the duck stole the show). The duck is skillfully carved tableside, and served with  pancakes and a plate of condiments (see below). The fat was trimmed, the skin was crispy, the meat was tender -- all in all, a delight. 

                   

• The pool at the Hyatt. Needless to say, our muscles were in pain Sunday morning, so we decided the pool and jacuzzi were in order. To our delight, we didn't find your typical hotel pool. Under a fake evening sky (complete with stars) and surrounded by fake (but tasteful) palm trees and tropical vegetation, it reminded me of what you might find in Vegas. 

• Olympic Boulevard. Before venturing off to the train station, we hit Olympic Boulevard where we saw the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. Although we couldn't explore the inside of these buildings, it was pretty cool to know that history was made in each one.     

More to come. Stay tuned! AND, after taking all night, the noodle video finally uploaded. Click here.