Peking Duck in Peking!!

Cold day today... we were late getting into Beijing thanks to weather in NY. Apparently - I slept the entire way!!! Hopefully - not snoring!!! (Snoring in the room and on the bus - caught up on 20 hours sleep) we walked over to Tiananmen Square than all the way through Forbidden City - I have now seen ALL of the Forbidden City!!

We were Shanghai'd by some art students on our way to the Forbidden City - 4 Art Students convinced that there was an Prestigious Art Exhibition in a dumpy "hotel" down a very questionable street.....  and we saw some very pretty things. Also  - they ran out of paint before they could paint clothes on some of the female subjects... LOL

Then we were tailed by a pedicab driver who stalked us all the way down Wanfujing! LOL

We were not permitted to take pictures of the acrobat show - and it is a good thing because I will probably have night for the rest of my life about the giant MILLIPEDE guy who climbed a pole - which was a LOT too close for comfort from our front row seats. We were in the special VIP section right up front.. we could see the sweat on the performers...  and the sparkly eyelashes - fake of course.

Then - delicious Roasted Duck (Peking Duck) at Quanjude - most famous duck restaurant in all Beijing. Very good dinner... and excellent company.. can not say enough about how much fun we are all having!! Tomorrow we are up bright and early to go to Great Wall and Temple of Heaven then SHOPPING!!  I miss my Chillies... but otherwise all is well.

Good Morning Beijing!

At 3:30AM Beijing Time - the Empress decided to arise and since she requires her coutiers be in attendance at all times - Mama & Baba were up too! Actually works out kinda ok - since we really needed to be down to breakfast buffet early so we can meet others and get on the bus at 8:00 am - we are still waiting for certain things to, uh.. happen for her highness and I am hoping being up that early with speed things on (IYKWIM) We were quite tired but managing and it will be interesting to see what happens tonight! We ate leaisurely breakfast and the bacon and sausage were going like gangbusters! I don't know where she puts it all. I am already tired of eggs! Would love a bagel with a smear and some fishy but - whatever! Shortly we will be off to Great Wall then Lunch then Ming Tombs.. we will not return till much later.. but I will try to post more and a few pics. I am having a LOT of trouble posting from here and can't even post to my yahoo groups... so if any of my buddies are reading this - if you could just say hi to all and let them know we are OK - I will send updates when I can.

Word of the day: Sleep! ( for those who have been where I am - the word is really poop!)

Late breaking news..... :-(

What the heck is Chicken Pox Virus Variant*? And how do I get it off my kid! It is NOT to be believe - I mean we have immunized this kid against everything - including things that aren't even a problem... so here we are a few days before our trip - and that is right! You got it.. she is covered in "Chicken Pops!"


* As some of you know - I have a great love of the dramatic AND the ridiculous (as well as a large fondness for Irony!) and so I already know that she is fine, there is nothing I can do, she will be ok to go on Wednesday.. and this really is not so bad... BUT.............I am &#^@$^^@#%@ Just the same!

This just in!!!

It is a very sad day here in the Palace. We have found out that we can never again drink fruppacino in the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, PRC. Public Protest Clears Forbidden City of Sturbacks!It is indeed a very sad day here in the Palace. Although I hold the memories of our trip to China near to my heart and I know that our return trip will be just as sweet.... there is a part of me that is so sad that this little travesty of cultural imperialism with not be there. I was never so happy to see that green dot as I was that day... although there have been times when the cuppa was just as badly needed and dearly loved. Oh, I just don't know if I can even bear to return to Beijing! Perhaps we will have to travel Through HK - though I am thinking a stop in Shanghai would be a nice treat!!! It is just hard to imagine a world where the bastion to consumerism and imperialism is not being sheltered in the arms of the what was once the most exclusive and off-limits place in the world... yea, that does not actually seem right! Well, as usual I felt you should know that this has happened.