From one very tired Jennifer

So, let me update you on what has been going on since last time. The next morning, we went to a market place in Shanghai. It kind of reminded me of the French Quarter in New Orleans but the buildings and people look different. Also, there are no vehicles allowed in the area. There were people everywhere and some of them staring at us. You will never guess what we found here. Starbucks!! Guess it is true that they are everywhere. : ) There is also a temple in the market place were people can buy and burn incense and pray. This is the first area we were approached by a woman who wanted us to take a picture with her grandmother and son.

By this time we are starving, so we go to what is the chinese version of a fast food restaurant. Picture Piccadilly with complete and utter chaos, strange food, and seats very close together.

After eating, we walked to were the driver was meeting us and he took us to the train station. We took the night train from Shanghai to Beijing. Let me tell you that sleeping on the train is not fun. The train did not make very much noise, at least less than I would have expected and the ride was very smooth. The only complaint I can make is that the cabin was very small and the bed was very hard, but at least there was a real potty and not just a hole.

When we departed the train, we were met by a very nice man who took us to a hotel to shower and change clothes and rest for a bit before we were off again. This time we went to Tiananmen Square. This is were the Forbidden City is located. From what I understand, only 1/3 of this is open to the public but let me tell you that if you walk all the way through the 1/3 you are doing good. The City is huge. There was gorgeous architecture, statues, paintings, and landscaping in the City.

We left the Forbidden City and made our way through the crowds to the car. Our next destination was the Temple of Heaven. I think that so far, this is my favorite. There were people in the front singing karaoke, playing instruments I don't know, knitting, and one lady was rapping in Chinese. They were just hanging out and having a good time. This is where the Echo Wall is located. It is a stone circular wall. They call it the Echo Wall because if you shout at the wall a person on the other side can hear you. Cool, huh!

We had dinner in a place that is suppose to be very famous. Peking Duck Restaurant. Everything here is made with duck. Duck heart, duck wings, and of course the main body of the duck. (Duck heart tastes like chicken.) They were a few things I did not like but a majority of the food was very good.

After all the walking and sleeping on the train the night before, one very tired and sore Jennifer was glad to go to sleep.

Next morning, we went to view the Olympic Buildings (The Nest Building and the Water Cube). Unfortunately, we could not get close because they were closed. But, I still took some pictures of what I could.

From here we went to one of the Ming Emperor Tomb, Dingling Ming. It was kind of neat, but not very exciting. One good thing was that it had been raining, so the tomb was not very crowded. We saw where the emperor and empress were buried. You have to walk underground to view this. Down lots of steps and then up lots of steps.

Leaving here the next stop is the Great Wall of China. It was great. ; ) We walk up the Great Wall to the top of a mountain. Yes, I made it. There was a lot of rest stops and huffing and puffing, but I did it. The scenery was very, very, very beautiful and well worth the climb. This is also the scene of the second set of people who wanted a picture with us.

From here we went to eat at a very spicy restaurant. Good but too spicy for me. Then to sleep I went.

This brings me up to this morning, which has been a relaxing day. We went to Wal-Mart. (Not kidding.) It was like ours but different. Then we went the mall were we ate lunch. Again, like ours but different. It was very tall and smell different. Now, we are back at the hotel resting before going to eat dinner because we were super tired.

This is all I have for now. I will write some more when I can. Bye

Hello from Shanghai

Well after sixteen hours on a plane and about 2 hours in a narrow SUV/Van. We are finally at our hotel in Shanghai. The city has lots of very tall apartment complexes and signs that I can not read. I do have to admit that they are very good about writing the english meanings under a lot of them. It is very crowed here and I very glad that I did not have to drive. Drew compared our driver to pac man (you no, eating the dashes on the road). They also do not know how to merge.
Time to go. Will write more when I have a chance.

First Blog Ever!

I am going to China for three weeks. There are only six days to go until we leave. I am so excited. I have never been out of the country, so this should be quite the experience.