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So we have arrived in sweltering Beijing, despite having sadly failed to get upgraded on the second bit of the flight...oh well, cant have everything!
So...Beijing is VAST! It took us nearly an hour to navigate the airport (which is roughly the size of a small town), and then on the way in we saw so many high rise enormous buildings al so close together that it was quite unbelievable. Surprisingly managed to get taxi driver to take us to the exact right place (nicolas a forward-planning genius), and then headed out for an explore.Our hotel is really near tian an men square and the forbidden city so we headed there straight away for a "potter". We didn't realise that both are absolutely ginormous and as a result the day turned into a trek. Probably should have realised that it's called the forbidden "city" and therefore managing to walk around it in 2 hours was somewhat ambitious. Particularly as it was about 40 degrees and there aren't many places in the shade!!! The square has such a strong military presence that the atmosphere is slightly uncomfortable, but the forbidden city is utterly stunning....even if walking through it does feel like it will never end! Nicola got some awesome photos- its amazing because you're standing in the middle of ancient china, with new Beijing and its sky-scrapers all around you but you can't see them, only brilliant blue sky. Felt a bit parched so time for our first Chinese icecream....choice of chocolate, yogurt or green pea! Not feeling massively adventurous so went for chocolate- maybe try the pea another day!
So after about 4 hours and a hunt for this tower we wanted to climb (but later realised that section was closed and we had seen were workers not tourists!) we were so hot we basically couldn't move, and didn't fancy a pea ice cream. We decided to get a cab back to the hotel- except instead of a normal cab we got bicycle rickshaws! Great fun (if a little hair raising!!). Felt l bad making a small Chinese man cycle me in this heat, but then they tried to rip us off and didn't take us to the right place, so lesson learnt! Did get an unplanned cycle through the Beijing hutongs though, so not all bad and he went in for a hug at the end. Creep.
We thought going to eat some Peking duck would be appropriate for our first night so we went to a restaurant near the hotel where lots of locals were- delicious!!! went for a wander round the Beijing night market- didn't fancy shark or starfish on a stick so will probably give that a miss for dinner, but it looks a bit like times square but the neon signs are in Chinese.
Great wall tomorrow! Fingers crosse d we survive the toboggan!!
Gemma and Nicola xxx
- comments
Anne Read Hello girls, hope you have now 'done' the ancient Great Wall and The Ancient Toboggan run and are still in one piece so that you can enjoy deep fried starfish on a stick dipped in green pea ice cream. A photo would be good. Well, The Torch has hot-footed it through the metropolis of Market Deeping and the local crowds, possibly not quite as many as might be in Tiannamen Square, were all out at the crack of dawn. Lots of love, and from your Ancient Aunt Lucy, Mum xxx