Street scenes from the bus
















KFC & interesting bicycles.

















and of course, Coke.

Rickshaw Races . . .

Jake & Pam (and Linda & Other Stan next door)
















Bev, Stan & Margie
















Looking down the row of rickshaws (& past George) while we're waiting to start our ride. I don't think any of us really wanted to do this (it's so demeaning and dehumanizing for our "driver") but it was part of our tour, so . . .

This musician really wanted to sell me the instrument he was playing, but I just wanted to hear him play. He waved for my camera.
















Our "driver" indicates he has a sore shoulder. Just wait, buddy . . .


















And we're off . . .

A pretty little pond with willows & shops around.
















I loved these restaurants with outdoor seating.

















A street vendor rides alongside our rickshaw trying to sell us Rolex watches for "two dollah" while another one waits by a food stand.

This house has not yet been renovated . . . many seemed to have fresh paint, but when you peeked through the open gate, it was pretty grim inside.
















This was a pretty narrow street, but seemed to be used mostly for the rickshaws. I felt so sorry for our driver -- he was really huffing & puffing . . . what a terrible way to earn a living. I felt very decadent and spoiled, and embarrassed.

Very organized row of bicycles
















John Robert, John & Lorri at dinner . . . I think John Robert is really getting into posing in front of the beer bottles! Tonight we had Szechuan -- most everything was a little too hot for me, but I managed.

















Part of our dinner, perhaps?

Scenes inside our restaurant

Night lights of Beijing





























Oh I forgot to mention -- at the end of this VERY long & full day we opted to get full body massages at a nearby massage parlor. What an experience, but no pictures . . . I think it really helped get out the kinks from all our walking & helped us get going the next day. (Check out April 2007 for the continuation of Beijing pics.)

Beijing - Day 3

Driving toward our first stop of the day, we saw what would be the only group of blooming trees (cherry, or plum?) we would see in Beijing.
















One of many apartment buildings

Tienenmen Square

Walking from our bus into the square.

Strong military/police presence here.

Kites -- you need to click & enlarge this first pic to see this amazing kite, but be sure to arrow back to return to the blog!

Although we did not walk over there, this monument is called Monument to the People's Heroes & stands 125 ft high. It is dedicated to "all those who struggled for the glorious revolution" & carries a warning that anyone trying to start another one will be sternly punished. In the past, there have been riots & strikes here, so this area is now closed to the public & kept under guard & it is forbidden to lay wreaths or perform any other commenmorative gestures.

We were trying to behave, so we would not be carted away in this police van. It's difficult to explain, but you just feel "different" in a country where people are not free to think & talk as we are so accustomed to doing.
















One of our Chinese guides Gillian, answers questions about Tiananmen Square . . . it's just so huge and bare! She told us 2 million people could gather here! (and have!) And of course, most of us remember the pictures . . . but "everything is fine now & everyone is happy & there is no crime" (according to our Chinese guides.) Of course, we were warned to watch our purses & wallets, and make sure to count our change if we bought something, and not to wander off alone, but there is no crime in Beijing. The worst thing here was the constant barrage from the pushy street vendors who would not take NO for answer. We were told to tell them, "Be-yow!" which means, "leave me alone - I don't want anything!" But we soon found out it worked better to tell them, "We're from Japan." I don't think Japanese or Americans are very popular in China!

We stood for a long time just taking in the vast area we were standing in. This location is the center of Beijing and all the roads make larger & larger circles around it. After a while, we noticed these "plain clothes" men watching our group. Were we just being paranoid? Our guide advised us that it was probably time to move on . . . (but there's no crime in Beijing.)

Reminded me of the "Tomb of the Unknown" in Washington DC.

















Looking across the street toward the Forbidden City from Tienanmen Square. Yep, that's Mao watching everyone from the Tiananmen Gate, where he stood to make his famous speeches and announcements. The slogan on the left says, "Long Live the People's Republic of China" and the one on the right says, "Long Live the Unity of the People of the World."

Facing different directions in the square -- it's amazingly huge! 2400 ft long by 1650 ft wide.

Of course, most of us remember that in June 1989, the government sent in troops and tanks to bring student protests to a violent end. Thousands are believed to have died here. Our guide turned off her microphone to tell us when we reached this area . . .




The police / military putting on a show of strength -- for visitors, perhaps?


















I love these little bicycle pickup trucks. We saw LOTS of them in Beijing.

Forbidden City (Palace Museum)

We've gone through a tunnel to cross the street (while fighting off the annoying street vendors) and are outside the gate to the gate to the Forbidden City. It's difficult to perceive how large and spread out everything is here -- unlike Japan.

It is called forbidden, because during the time when there was an emporor living here, only the royals & court were allowed in. Entry by commoners was forbidden by penalty of death!

Seeing this well-worn carved post, makes one aware of how many thousands of years old it is.















Stan under Mao's watchful eye . . .

















Makayla & Sarah holding a Chinese baby & causing a media rush. . .