Day 2

Quite the day. Included Tienemen Square, Forbidden city, summer palace, silk factory, Special dinner, and Chinese opera. I started writing this at 5 pm still have the dinner and the opera to go. By the way, i am liking blogsy for blogs however spell check is not working so be forwarned.

We're experiencing rain from the typhoon which meant spending most of the day in damp clothes and less than stellar conditions for photos. it is fortunate we have a car and a driver to get between venues. But we did a ton of walking and an umbrella only helps so much. Kept the camera dry anyway.

Its Monday and Beijing looks a lot more like we expected it to today: lots more people, bikes and traffic. We started with Tienaman Square.

 

Strange to walk across it considering all the history that has taken place here. the space and the buildings surrounding it are impressive and despite the rain the place was crowded with tourists from China as well as the rest of the world.

This connected to the Forbidden City, called such as the common folk were not allowed there for much of its 600 year history. Each building is eye popping in its own right but the way the structures relate makes for another sort of visual delight.

 

 

I wish the weather had allowed me to capture some of the colors and views better. We definitly plan on watching "the last emporer" when we return. Much of it having taken place here.

 

Lots of thrones, not a lot of warm fuzzy space. Not an easy place to live or survive even if you were the Emperor. The place has 9,999 rooms and the Emporer had 73 bedrooms. One for each concubine and one with his wife. That was to make it harder for porential assasins to find him. We also heard an interesting game played by the Emporer and his concubines.

This is now melanie. Before you get the wrong idea. The game was hide and seek.

I'm not as linear as David so let me babble. Four is an unlucky number in China. There are no 4th floors in buildings here, like in the US no 13th floor. The emperor owned the number 9 and the color yellow. No one else could use it. Seems a bit capricious. I know youre the emperor but thats a bit over the top. There was someone in history called the dragon lady. Her husband died and her baby son became emperor. She ruled for him and he died of small pox at 4 so she appointed a baby newphew and ended up ruling for over 50 years. She's an evil charachter in chinese history but lets review this story from a feminist perspective. Women had no rights or say in anything. Shes my heroine I say hurray for the dragon lady.

I have been falling asleep at 4p on the nose the last two days. Luckily the guide took us back to the hotel at 4 so I could grab an hours nap. I still fell asleep at the opera. That was interesting but I'll let david discuss it. Apparently it is common for young boys (3 to 6) to pee in the street when the mood strikes them. I'll not comment on my assessment of that cultural habit.

Lets talk important stuff. My hair looks like Marlo Thomas in That Girl. Where did this flip come from? At worst my hair is totally frizzed. Oy.

Other nonsense. I have no problem with the shower but in order for David to get wet above the knees he has to lift the shower head up and it floods the bathroom.

Managed to forget a phone so no pictures from Chinese Opera but i did buy a program (first time for everything). Really glad we went but it is not an artform that grabs me. The martial arts component (a common part of the plot) was a surprise and impressive and i really enjoyed the live musicians and how they worked with the actors.

Oh yes we also went to a silk factory and decided not to spend $1000 for a silk comforter. We did, however get to stretch the silk from a double cacoon making a new layer for a quilt of some future purchaser.

It is Sarah's birthday her already! Happy Birthday!

 

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