We had a great breakfast to start off, and that was the best thing that happened that day. Then we boarded the bus and stopped at a jade factory. I thought the bull looked like the Merill Lynch bull, so I had Olivia pose for Grandpa Howard. We bought nothing. It was like being in any tourist store in America.
Then we headed for the Great Wall of China. Did I ention yet that it was hot????? And we could not stay on or go back to the bus, since they park them, turn them off and lock them? The scenery was beautiful - China is a beautiful country - but neither Debbi nor I had any desire to actually walk the Wall. It was a steep climb to the next watchtower, the steps are horribly uneven and - it was really HOT!!! Plus, we had Olivia with us.
And this was where I had my first inkling that maybe my "perfect little traveler" maybe wasn't so perfect. All of a sudden, she started crying and begging for popsicles. Ok - easy enough - we just need to walk back down the slope to the little store and get some. But Olivia got all turned around and INSISTED, screaming & crying, that we had to go the opposite direction - up to the next watchtower - to get the popsicles. She basically went bananas and started to attract A LOT of attention. I had to pick her up and lug her, screaming and flailing, back down the slope to the little store. Blessedly, the tiny little store was air conditioned. Olivia was able to cool down somewhat and regain her composure. My fair skinned, light haired little girl simply could not take the heat.
Here she is eating her life-saving popsicle with two other little girls from our travel group (they'd already been adopted on previous trips). After this, Debbi was able to find a spot of shade, on the grass, that actually had a nice breeze. We didn't budge from that spot until they started the bus. So much for the Great Wall. As I said before, I want to go back to China - when the girls are older, and it's cooler, and we aren't being driven around like cattle.
We were bussed to lunch, and afterwards got to visit the Cloissone Factory on the ground floor. Lots of pretty stuff. Olivia's favorite was the peacock display. I bought nothing.
Then we hit the Olympic Stadium - The Bird's Nest. But we couldn't go in. By this time, several of us wanted to simply sit and rest. But no - they have to park the bus, shut it off and lock it. So we were forcibly marched to the Bird's Nest even tho we didn't want to go and several of the kids were about at the end of their ropes and in need of naps. We were quite a grumbly group.
This is Maggie, our guide in Beijing. Very sweet lady.
Then we had to go to a tea-tasting "display" - actually just a tourist spot where they sell you bunches of tea. But it was actually interesting and educational and the tea was really good. And it turned out to be a good nap spot for the kids. Both Debbi and I bought tea.
Lilly, also from Georgia, takes a quick nap.
On the bus, hopefully to head back to the hotel. What? No such luck! Now it's time for the acrobat show! Noooooooooo......!
Debbi clutching her precious water and saying "what the H@&%$ have I gotten myself into????"
The acrobat show was good, but it was just too late and we were too tired to really appreciate it. They wouldn't let us take pictures because they hawked their DVD at the end of the show. We finally limped back to the hotel, hot, tired and hungry. I remember being very cranky that they simply dropped us at the door and basically said,"find your own food, see you early tomorrow!" We must have eaten room service? Because then we had to pack, get to bed and be perky enough to fly to our province the next day. Sheez! Little did we know, we were in for QUITE a week.
In present time, we stayed at home all day, since Olivia was still sickly from yesterday. Only now her tummy has stabilized, but her throat is all bubbly. Looks like we might call the Dr. tomorrow morning... Also, Daddy found a dog at the front of the suddivision on his way home from Home Depot. He was a really neat dog! He looked to be about 5-7 years old, and resembled a cross between a corgi and maybe a shepherd or chow. He had a long, low, muscle-y body, with big pointy ears and thick back fur. He was so gentle and calm, we just loved him. He got along great with the kids, cats and Bostons. I took his picture and quick posted it on the message board at the front of the subdivision and at the big local grocery store. And his family called shortly thereafter. He just lives down the street, his name is Buddy and he's 15! No wonder he was so calm. They still didn't know how he'd slipped out, but were very thankful we'd found him. Hot weather like this is not kind to old dogs with thick fur. So, Mark did his good deed for the day and didn't live to regret it.
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