Off to Nanchang...
Well, I have about half an hour before the guide shows up to take us to the airport. We fly to Nanchang, check into our hotel, and go to the provincial civil affairs office to meet our daughter. It's a bit overwhelming, although I feel oddly calm about everything. It's a good day. Actually the first day that we're seeing some blue sky in Beijing.
Have I mentioned that Beijing is really, really smoggy? Our guide keeps saying, "Oh, it's fog. It's not pollution." We're pretty sure it's smog. People in blue uniforms and straw hats sweep the streets (yes, with brooms that look kind of like what the Wicked Witch of the West used). Many of them wear paper or cloth masks over their mouths and noses. It's pollution all right.
Yesterday we had a tour of a jade factory, climbed the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China, had a brief tour of a cloissone factory and lunch, and then visited the Summer Palace. The jade factory was amazing. It was cool to watch the people working with the jade. We bought what's called a family harmony ball--it's made from one piece of jade, but has three moveable layers inside it, representing different generations. The center layer of the ball cannot be removed, symbolizing that the family's core can't be broken. We also bought a gorgeous purple jade rooster for the baby (since she was born in the year of the rooster) and a bracelet for her for when she's older.
The Badaling section of the Great Wall is about an hour outside of Beijing. It's built into the mountains and was actually used to protect city--built around the same time as the rest of the Great Wall, but rings the city of Beijing. It goes up, up, up with steps that range in height from two to about 15 inches. No joke. Steep climbs from one guard toward to the next, but the incredible views are worth it. Once you get past a certain point, the crowds thin out. I climbed up to the fifth or sixth guard tower. I think Mike stopped one below me. It was exhilerating.
I'd better get going--this two yuan per minute computer use is for the birds. Next time I write to you, we'll officially be parents.
Yippee!
Have I mentioned that Beijing is really, really smoggy? Our guide keeps saying, "Oh, it's fog. It's not pollution." We're pretty sure it's smog. People in blue uniforms and straw hats sweep the streets (yes, with brooms that look kind of like what the Wicked Witch of the West used). Many of them wear paper or cloth masks over their mouths and noses. It's pollution all right.
Yesterday we had a tour of a jade factory, climbed the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China, had a brief tour of a cloissone factory and lunch, and then visited the Summer Palace. The jade factory was amazing. It was cool to watch the people working with the jade. We bought what's called a family harmony ball--it's made from one piece of jade, but has three moveable layers inside it, representing different generations. The center layer of the ball cannot be removed, symbolizing that the family's core can't be broken. We also bought a gorgeous purple jade rooster for the baby (since she was born in the year of the rooster) and a bracelet for her for when she's older.
The Badaling section of the Great Wall is about an hour outside of Beijing. It's built into the mountains and was actually used to protect city--built around the same time as the rest of the Great Wall, but rings the city of Beijing. It goes up, up, up with steps that range in height from two to about 15 inches. No joke. Steep climbs from one guard toward to the next, but the incredible views are worth it. Once you get past a certain point, the crowds thin out. I climbed up to the fifth or sixth guard tower. I think Mike stopped one below me. It was exhilerating.
I'd better get going--this two yuan per minute computer use is for the birds. Next time I write to you, we'll officially be parents.
Yippee!
posted by SusantheMommy at
6:29 PM
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