We're Here

Well actually we've been here since 11pm on Friday evening (and now it's Sunday afternoon)... but, it's been busy!

Here's a quick summary...

We (Lacretia, Lori and I) got into Beijing at 11pm on Friday. Our guide Grace was there to meet us and another couple from Texas who arrived on the same flight. We were put on a bus and taken to the hotel. The beds were HARD! But, we slept pretty well for the few hours we were able to sleep.

There were 5 families on our Saturday tour... 4 of the families will adopt girls in Guangdong province. One family went to Nanchang and will meet up with us later in Guangzhou. One of the family's daughters is in the same SWI as Sonia.

Saturday, we had breakfast at 7am and then exchanged money and were on the bus by 8am. We visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, had lunch in a Jade factory (a nice Chinese style lunch) and learned a bit about Jade cutting, carving, polishing and how to tell if it's real, polyester, glass, or marble. Of course, there was shopping potential but we resisted (at least for now). We then took the bus to the Great Wall where I almost died of heat exhaustion. But, it was incredible!! Everyone was tired and most people napped on the long bus ride to the hotel. We managed to have dinner at the hotel buffet and pack up our stuff to leave Beijing the next morning before falling asleep!

Here's a few pictures from our tour...