First of our tours was a trip to the Hutong where we boarded a three wheel pedal cab to go through the narrow network of lanes created by closely built built quadrangle homes. Most all of the buildings are one story and each entrance generally opens to a courtyard of 4 homes. The area dates back to the period of Gengis Kahn and reminded me if the residential areas of the old city of Jerusalem.
While we rode in the pedacab, our guide was riding a bike next to or sometimes behind us. The alleys go anywhere from .5 meters to maybe 9 meters wide. Gets interesting when you meet a car coming the other way
An interesting tidbit was that each family is allowed one tree and many of the alleys were shaded by walnut and other species. We paid a visit to a "typical" home where a daughter was painting bottles. The interesting part of this is that she was painting the inside of the bottle through its neck with a handmade brush. David got a chance to try - not easy. Because of the drainage in the Hutong area no one has toilets. There are communal toilets all over but none in any houses.
We then went to the bell tower were we participated in a tea ceremony. In this the tea was more important than the ceremony and we had the chance to try 5 different teas. It was fascinating to see the tea prepared and the quickness of the brewing. Steeping had no part of these teas.
After returning to the hotel we took off looking for a Chinese foot treatment. On the way we had to check out another tea shop. Melanie was looking for reflexology but no one has heard of it here. They most have another name for it. Anyway a 45 minute foot massage was wonderful. In the room was a sign saying no drug taking or drug trafficking here.
How could could you not live a country that has wonton soup and pork buns for breakfast? And they have shoes that fit my feet! i bought a paIr of hand painted sandals. We had lunch at a noodle shop that was not a tourist place.
I had the worlds slipperyest noodles. I ended up eating them by winding them around my chopsticks the way you wind spaghetti around a fork.
Bikes are a common form of transport. The are all utilitarian but we found an interesting bike sharing program with newer bikes.
It is clear a little more language prep would have been useful. Next trip we'll be sure to have less, more, yes and no in our vocabulary.
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