We are just finishing our second day in Beijing. I (Carmen) can't begin to tell you what a fantastic time we are having. First, breakfast... our hotel package includes a breakfast buffet. Yesterday we ate on the ground floor but today they sent us up to the 28th floor to the rotating restaurant. Same breakfast, incredible view! The breakfast is very good. Along with foods normal to us like: Danishes, eggs, sausage, bacon (no biscuits and gravy); they have stir-fry veggies, fried rice, noodles and other things I haven't really identified yet. My goal is to try at least one thing unknown to me a day. I got an omelette this morning and it was raw on the inside. Yikes! I plan to avoid eggs the rest of the time.

After breakfast we got to go to the Great Wall. It was incredible!!!

We rode a gondola most of the way up and climbed to the highest point from there. It was surreal to even be there.

It was much more crowded than I had expected...

The climb, especially down, was a little nerve-racking at times because it was steep and the steps were a little uneven and were different heights. I'm struggling to find words to express the experience. It was awesome!

Several people in our group were stopped and asked if they could have their picture taken with them. Kyle was asked twice. It kind of freaked him out a little but they just wanted their picture taken with Americans. Another funny thing was that one of the men in our group ran into someone he knows. Small world!

After leaving the Wall, our bus driver drove us past the stadiums being prepared for the 2008 Olympics. We saw two stadiums - one just in the early stages of building and one that appeared finished. Very cool!

Speaking of the bus driver, you should see how people drive here. It's a riot! I have been repeatedly thankful to be riding in a bus because it is obvious that the biggest vehicle wins. Today we were driving on a four-lane highway and twice saw two cars driving side by side in one lane. We are constantly cracking up and shaking our heads in wonder.

We also went to the Cloisonné Factory. Cloisonné is a Chinese art of sketching an intricate design; making the design with metal strips; gluing the metal to a vase, bowl, bracelet, etc., and adding layers of colored enamel.

That's Carmen's shortened version of the process but it was very neat. Of course there were more shopping opportunities and despite the pep talk I gave myself on the way there, we did make a few small purchases. They had baby bracelets that I don't think anyone in the group resisted and, of course, we had to get a matching one for Sydney and earrings for me. It was lots of fun!

Oh, I forgot to mention that we got 8 glorious hours of sleep last night and feel human again. Sydney is doing fantastic on the trip. She and the other girls are having a wonderful time and, even in China, we are regularly hearing requests for play dates.

Also, Mary came through her surgery well. She had a broken femur. We will have to leave them behind in Beijing and when she is released from the hospital she and her husband plan, at this point, to return to the states. She is taking the break well but is very disappointed to be missing the fun.

Have a happy April Fools' Day!

Love,
Carmen, Kyle and Sydney