China Tour Day One.

This is our first full day in China. Our first "day" was yesterday but there was only 30 minutes before it was gone!

We were busy. Sharon and I slept until about 7:00am and then showered, dressed, and went for a walk. We met the rest of the gang back at the hotel for breakfast and then loaded in the van with our tour guide, Ada, and our driver. Off to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The square is huge and packed with people. Actually not really packed, because they could have gotten a lot more in there. We were amused when more than one family asked to have pictures taken with us. We were quite the celebrities.

The sun was intense as was the heat. We walked from about 10:30 until almost 1:00 when we took a break for lunch. Seeing the Forbidden City was quite the experience but it took a lot out of all of us and we needed a respite. Lunch was in a local restuarant and we had an assortment of dishes. We described them as a sample of tastes and flavors from around the world. Chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, fish, and many vegetables.

After lunch we went to the Drum Tower - wow what a climb. Seventy steps and big steps up to the top. That did us in, but we were entertained by drumming and views before we grabbed the rails to head back down. Before the tower we had a rickshaw ride and learned of how the locals lived and visited a private residence.

Our day concluded with a performance of Chinese Acrobats. All I can say is "Wow!" Acrobatics, and juggling, and even motorcycles in a cage. Dinner was noodles in a place close to our hotel and then we retiredto our rooms. Sharon and I showered and collapsed!

We Picked Up A Few Kids

Crowds Of Umberallas

Ada And Sharon

Beautiful Buildings

It Was Good To Be Emporer

Rickshaw Ride

The Drum Tower

Kids Posing

Juggelrs At Acrobatics Show

Acrobatics Show