Touring Beijing

Today we toured old Beijing with a private guide named Mark who doesn't like crowds and knows all kinds of secret ways to avoid them. He also served as our personal photographer, which was awesome.

We started at Tiannamen Square, which is huge and imposing and jammed packed with people. Tour groups wear matching hats so members can find each other.


Next we went to the adjacent Forbidden City, which is where 24 the emperors lived. The architecture is spectacular and this is a great time to see it because everything has been all gussied up recently for the Olympics. Mark took us to lots of quiet little alley ways and museums - little museums that showed the pottery of China, the lives of concubines, the dishes used at imperial banquets.


Last stop was the Summer Palace, where the Empress Dowager - the emperor's mother, who basically ruled China for years - went to get away from the heat. It's still in Beijing, but on a huge, beautiful lake. It's just as spectacular as the Forbidden City - more so in many ways - but is not being kept up. A lot of the paint is peeling or chipped off and everything feels in need of renovation. Only two main gates were repainted and renovated for the Olympics.

It was a great tour and an active day. LOTS of walking. We're both tired, but looking forward to dinner at a restaurant nearby with another Holt family.

Tomorrow's the big day!!

We made it!!!!

We got to the hotel at about 10 p.m. Beijing time on Thursday night. We tried to post a message last night, but our computer has mysteriously switched to Mandarin! We didn't anticipate that one. After a little fiddling around with a clear head this morning I think we figured it out.

Our travel went fantastic, thanks to the upgrade courtesy of Dad's frequent flier miles. In LA we checked in and went through a separate security gate with no waiting, and spent a couple hours nibbling cookies and snack mix in the American Airlines first-class lounge. Natalie Portman was there, too - she's teeny tiny!!

The long flight was great thanks for seats that recline ALL THE WAY. Lovely. We had a good Japanese lunch and each watched a movie, then I pretty much slept the rest of the way. Tom watched two more movies and a LOOOONG documentary on Heath Ledger. Every time I woke up it seemed like it was still on.



A guide from our agency met us at the airport and drove us to the hotel, which is very, very nice. We upgraded to get a bigger room and are very glad we did. There's a large area where Quinn can crawl around and play. Plus we have a fantastic view of downtown Beijing and we get a free happy hour every night. Sounds good to us.

We leave on Oct. 29

We're almost ready! We'll post as much as time, energy and Internet connections permit!