Beijing Day 1

Today we have had a very full day! First we visited Tiananmen Square / Forbidden City (now called Palace Museum) This is where the emperors lived. It was so huge, I can not even begin to tell you how many buildings were a part of it... there were buildings for him to meet officials to work, a building in between for him to stop and have tea. My favorite building was one that is used only once a year for the empress' birthday. She only goes there once a year and it is a "room full of treasures" (: We learned so much about the history and culture here in just one day and it fascinates me. Forest is our guide, he is quite funny and full of knowledge. We are enjoying him very much.

On a side note, we are here with one other couple that is adopting as well. So there are just the six of us in our party... the other couple is Ania and George and they are hearing impaired and are adopting a darling little 2 1/2 girl that is also deaf. I am blown away by them - they are so sweet-hearted and wonderful to be with during this journey and we already love them.











We are touching the knobs on the door as good luck and it's a tradition to do this everytime you leave... after we left the Forbidden City we got dropped off to be driven on these bicycles that pull a 2 person seat (rickshaw) because the streets are all narrow alleys in the residential area. We were going to visit a home in Beijing to have lunch. I am so moved by this I can not even tell you... we ate at the table of a man named Ben who cooked for us the most delicious real chinese dishes. His house was very small with a kitchen and living area and two small bedrooms. You have to go down a long alley to get to him and everyone in the community uses a public bath house in the middle. (I even used their squaty potty!)








We just walked to have a Chinese dinner near our hotel - and now we are going to bed. Goodnight Friends!