Good bye Shanghai, Hello Beijing...

Wow, what a day - so much to write about...

We checked out of teh hotel in Shanghai and went to the train station not far away - our last time with our guide, Lemon. She did a wonderful job - sad to lose her.

Got on the bullet train for Beijing. The train is amazing, spacious, comfortable. We had first class seats - 4 across. You could spin a pair of seat to face each other (which I did for as long as there was no one else with me - most of the ride.) So we chatted an enjoyed the Chinese countryside or urban landscapes or mountains. They brought us drinks (great) and snacks (strange).

From Shanghai to Beijing is over 800 mi - about the same distance from Kansas City to Marquette MI, or KC to Utah, or Pensacola FL. What would typically be a 15-16 hour drive. We covered it in 5.5 hours with 7 stops. Most of the time we were at 300-310 kph, or 186-192 mph. Very smooth - no horns, no whistles, no crossings - elevated almost all the way (except for tunnels and some fenced areas. Very impressive - wish the US had a system like this.

We passed through Nanjing about 1 PM and thought of our friends Vince and Jerusha who had been here just over a month ago. Arrived at Beijing about 5 PM and were met by our guide Lidia and driver. The traffic was heavy but didn't seem as suicidal. Maybe I'm getting used to it. It's not that they're not following the rules - but the rules are different. One key one is that vehicles have the right of way, not pedestrians, even if pedestrians have the light.

In Shanghai, we had booked our hotel ourselves - the First Start - chosen to keep the cost down. The hotel may have been thought of as "nothing to write home about" - 3 stars. It was what we had been looking for (as long as no one gets malaria). It was clean, the rooms were very cheap (they limit you to 4 per room, so we are always renting 2 rooms). Most interestingly we were not on the main drag - we were down an alley about 300 yards in a neighborhood. Some conveniences were missing (compared to here): There was no English speaking staff, no currency exchange, and breakfast was only Chinese food (except for toast and jam). We worked around these things. Allie and Jenna could mostly translate for us - or we waited for our guide for help - we had estimated what we would need for cash - and came in with some left - so it all worked out.

Lotus / Holt have chosen our hotel in Beijing - the Novotel Peace Hotel. The first meetings for all Holt families adopting this week are here Saturday. This is a full 5 star place - as nice or better than any place I've stayed. We are about 4 blocks east of the Forbidden City - you can see it from our rooms - surreal. All conveniences are available (some are expensive e.g. filtered drinking water - which was abundant and free at First Start, some reasonable e.g. tours, and some included, e.g. breakfast).

Our guide had told us "walk two blocks west and turn south - there is a pedestrian street with shops and places to eat dinner". As soon as we left the hotel we were confronted by a woman and child begging - very aggressively. A bit of a surprise as it had not happened in Shanghai - it probably could have, but we were staying in a neighborhood - not a tourist or wealthy area.

Regardless - two blocks west - half way to the Forbidden City - is a street that has been blocked off for walking only. All shops and restaurants - many world wide brands - gap, McD's - some high end - really all over the place as far as $ - lit up like Times Square. To say crowds is a bit of an understatement. It is the exact opposite of teh ancient sections of Suzhou or Hangzhou that we had visited in the past few days - they may have been crowded at times - but with quiet places and traditional gardens or crafts or food. This street is total contrast - as well as contrast from what I think the Forbidden City will be. It is like a capitalism / tourism nuclear device landed right next to Mao and exploded. O...MG.

We made our way down the street / shopping / walking area. Now, in Shanghai/Suzhou/Hangzhou, occasionally someone would stop us and ask to take their pic or their children's pics with the girls. Many more would just stare or take our /their picture. It seems people are (attracted? interested? facinated?) by the blonde hair and height. And perhaps that there are 3 of them - talk to anyone that they are sisters and the one child policy comes up. It can't happen here - people comment that they must be triplets.

Well, I lost track of the number of people stopping us for pics. As soon as it happened, other would come up, and off it would go -a steady stream of people and pics and smiles. Stranger still as there are many foreigners here in the hotel and out on the street.

We had dinner and returned to the hotel to crash - feeling fairly overwhelmed. Wonder what today will bring.

D