The Forbidden City Stares Back
Trip Start
Jul 10, 2007
1
3
46
Trip End
Mar 11, 2008
Beijing,
China
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Our visit to this area of Beijing was quite a cultural experience. We stepped out of the hotel in family formation; Dad in front to locate and deflect hurdles and fight all evils (the traffic). He is also quite tall, blond and in Asia, can be spotted quickly. First son walks closely behind. I know he really wants to be in front - it is his personality and well he is 13! Third in line again is the 11 year old, always looking out for mom. The fourth one is me (with the bag, the camera and the hats) making sure that any potential "turtles" are not left behind.
The bus system is incredibly efficient, on schedule, fast and equipped with TV sets. The drivers of the articulated vehicles seem to enjoy the slalom courses they create by swerving around unsuspecting pedestrians
Tianenman Square
. What we are allowed to see in Beijing is beautiful. The architecture is modern and phenomenal! Due to the 2008 Olympic games, the horizon is littered with a whopping 4% of the world's supply of busy cranes erecting new buildings. The stadium (nest) and the aquatic center (ice cube) are ingenious. One big problem here is the air. I don't know how the athletes will perform with this pollution.The Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square are a sight to see because of their size, their ornate structures and of course their history. The crowd of visitors was overwhelming. Our family of tall blond haired "specimens" became the utmost attraction in Tienanmen Square. The piercing stares and the touching of our hair were awkward and very uncomfortable. Then the picture taking was a little embarrassing except for the youngest who adopted movie star poses. Ahh! What goes on in that one's head!
We succumbed to the pressure sales on the streets and bought a Mao watch (which stopped ticking after twenty minutes) and two paper fans...."Cheap, cheap madame, good price for you!" After having lunch at McD's, a treat for the boys experiencing cultural shock, we had to go back to bed and sleep off the 12 hours of jet lag now invading every inch of our bodies.
