Beijing II - China
7/22/05
After another night spent in the train, we arrived in Beijing early morning. With our babbling Chinese we managed to figure out which bus we had to take to head to the embassy. We were really stressed since we were supposed to get a confirmation about the processing of the visa by e-mail but it never arrived. Although, for our great surprise the visa was granted and it was ready waiting for us.
For our second visit to Beijing we didn't have to look for a hotel, as relatives of a friend from NY, Danny, were going to be our lovely hosts during our last two days in China.
After a good lunch we headed to Danny's family place, again by bus. They were waiting for us and were very welcoming. It was a very funny situation because they speak as much English as we speak Chinese, but language is not a barrier when one wants to express happiness and joy. They served us tea and fruits and called their daughter in law in the USA to be our translator.
After they figured out what we would like to do in Beijing, they explained to us how to get to the place and went with us to the bus station where we headed to the Heaven's Palace.
The Temple of Heaven was the place where the Emperors of the Ming (1420) and Qing dynasties would worship heaven and pray for bumper crops.
When we went back to the apartment we were taken out for diner to try a specialty, the Beijing Hot Pot. Our host ordered all kinds of food. At one point we had to ask him to stop ordering, we couldn't eat anymore, at all.
7/23/05
The next morning we woke up very early to have a typical Chinese breakfast, specialty prepared for us by the wife. Again there was lots of good food and they were always worried that we didn't get enough. After such a feast we headed to the Summer Palace.
Unfortunately it started raining and got worse and worse. We crossed all Beijing by bus to get there, since the Summer Palace is at the outskirt of the city; when we finally arrived it was not only pouring, but there was a very thick fog, a pity. The Summer Palace is supposed to be a wonderful place with a huge garden and lake, but with the rain it didn't resemble much of summer :(
We walked around for a while hoping that the weather would clear up, so we concentrated in visiting the buildings of the Palace, but after two hours of walking in the rain from building to building we decided to head back. On our way, we stopped in a market and then in a restaurant for lunch in a part of Beijing where they probably never get tourists. They were very happy to serve us and were as curious about us as we were about China.
Once back at Danny's relative place, we had a nice phrasebook chat (they had their phrasebook to travel in the U.S and we had a phrase book to get around in China) while the wife was preparing another specialty from Beijing, dumplings. There were even other members of the family that came to help, wow. We had a great dinner, and again ate too much (Danny, now we understand why you like eating so much).
We then spent the night talking to the teenager in the house who was very interested in what we saw in China and how we liked it. The whole family was so nice and they were always worried about our comfort. We went to bed early since we had to head to the airport the next morning at 4 o'clock. Again the next morning, our host came with us outside to help us to get a taxi and gave the taxi driver the destination. He even gave us food for the trip, what can we say? THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
China was definitely wonderful.
After another night spent in the train, we arrived in Beijing early morning. With our babbling Chinese we managed to figure out which bus we had to take to head to the embassy. We were really stressed since we were supposed to get a confirmation about the processing of the visa by e-mail but it never arrived. Although, for our great surprise the visa was granted and it was ready waiting for us.
For our second visit to Beijing we didn't have to look for a hotel, as relatives of a friend from NY, Danny, were going to be our lovely hosts during our last two days in China.
After a good lunch we headed to Danny's family place, again by bus. They were waiting for us and were very welcoming. It was a very funny situation because they speak as much English as we speak Chinese, but language is not a barrier when one wants to express happiness and joy. They served us tea and fruits and called their daughter in law in the USA to be our translator.
After they figured out what we would like to do in Beijing, they explained to us how to get to the place and went with us to the bus station where we headed to the Heaven's Palace.
The Temple of Heaven was the place where the Emperors of the Ming (1420) and Qing dynasties would worship heaven and pray for bumper crops.
When we went back to the apartment we were taken out for diner to try a specialty, the Beijing Hot Pot. Our host ordered all kinds of food. At one point we had to ask him to stop ordering, we couldn't eat anymore, at all.
7/23/05
The next morning we woke up very early to have a typical Chinese breakfast, specialty prepared for us by the wife. Again there was lots of good food and they were always worried that we didn't get enough. After such a feast we headed to the Summer Palace.
Unfortunately it started raining and got worse and worse. We crossed all Beijing by bus to get there, since the Summer Palace is at the outskirt of the city; when we finally arrived it was not only pouring, but there was a very thick fog, a pity. The Summer Palace is supposed to be a wonderful place with a huge garden and lake, but with the rain it didn't resemble much of summer :(
We walked around for a while hoping that the weather would clear up, so we concentrated in visiting the buildings of the Palace, but after two hours of walking in the rain from building to building we decided to head back. On our way, we stopped in a market and then in a restaurant for lunch in a part of Beijing where they probably never get tourists. They were very happy to serve us and were as curious about us as we were about China.
Once back at Danny's relative place, we had a nice phrasebook chat (they had their phrasebook to travel in the U.S and we had a phrase book to get around in China) while the wife was preparing another specialty from Beijing, dumplings. There were even other members of the family that came to help, wow. We had a great dinner, and again ate too much (Danny, now we understand why you like eating so much).
We then spent the night talking to the teenager in the house who was very interested in what we saw in China and how we liked it. The whole family was so nice and they were always worried about our comfort. We went to bed early since we had to head to the airport the next morning at 4 o'clock. Again the next morning, our host came with us outside to help us to get a taxi and gave the taxi driver the destination. He even gave us food for the trip, what can we say? THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
China was definitely wonderful.
posted by Adriano and Angie | 6:28 PM
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