Oh, Beijing

First, the bad: TJ did not like the hotel’s crib one bit.  She didn’t like sleeping at night either.  Her nose – well, all of our noses – plugged up with all sorts of treasures collected from the super-polluted air.  She decided to scream at many inopportune times, like at a sacred temple, stuck in the rain, and in quiet restaurants.  Matt headed off to a day of important business meetings with sleep deprivation and a massive headache.  Val & TJ got stuck on a busy boulevard, unable to flag a taxi.  Val forgot to pack socks.  Our intended brunch spot was overbooked.  Our intended dinner spot was too far away.  Due to some bigwigs in town, security was heightened to a ridiculous degree.  It took us 45 minutes just to cross the street near Tian’anmen Square.  We arrived at the Forbidden City only to find out that they stopped selling tickets for the day just ten minutes prior.  We walked way too far for way too long.  We had a bunch of pesky little issues with our hotel room.  And to end our trip, we were subjected to the most annoying security screening ever at the airport. 

Now for some good: TJ loved the hotel’s baby pool.  We loved the working cable TV.  Matt sailed through his various business presentations.  Val found an awesome mall with the worlds longest/biggest escalator and a store with a massive sale on socks.  We got to enjoy a delicious dinner of Peking duck and other Chinese delicacies (like sea cucumber – not a vegetable!).  Val learned that she can nurse TJ anywhere, in any conditions.  We ate a delicious brunch with wonderful friends.  We bargained down a bicycle cabbie, using our limited Mandarin and local negotiating tactics, until we got way better than the typical tourist deal on a sweet rickshaw ride around an old traditional neighborhood.  We stumbled upon a quaint little Vietnamese restaurant with intriguing décor and satisfying food.  After so many trials and tribulations, we moved through annoyance and past anger into delirium, until every new obstacle gave Matt a clever punchline and sent Val into giggles.  And due to our troubled hotel stay, we now have a deluxe suite waiting for us . . . if we ever dare return to Beijing.

Temple of Heaven, where TJ provided a soundtrack

A rare moment: TJ awake for a photo

The Weis with Chairman Mao at Tian'anmen Square

Forbidden City lived up to its name for us

Did I mention it was freezing cold (literally)?

 

 

 

Peking Duck dinner with delightful hosts was a trip highlight

Lovely rickshaw ride reminded us of our Dhaka days

Enjoying ourselves against the odds