Beijing: Day Two

Ni Hao! For those of you that don't know, that is Hello in Chinese. Once again, we were up very early today after a much needed rest from yesterday's adventures. Today was much less strenuous on the bodies and we all did very well. Today, after Jae, Kari, Lillian, and Sophi did a bit of school work, we set off for the Chinese Olympic Green where did a walk around the venues built for the 2008 Olympics. We saw the China's National Stadium, better known as the Birds Nest. It is so big! It is an architectural wonder. We also saw the Water Cube, which is the China National Aquatics center where Michael Phelps and all the worlds greatest swimmers competed during the games. Additionally, we saw the Gymnastics Stadium and many other olympic sites. Unfortunately, we couldn't go inside any of the venues (even though Lillian beg to go swimming in the Water Cube). Afterward, we stopped by the Tomb of one of China's great Emperors. Actually, in the area are the tombs of all 13 Emperor's of the Ming Dynasty. It was very interesting. Then it was lunch time at one of the many Friendship Stores in Beijing. It's a restaurant and a store (kind of a tourist trap). I'll bet you can't guess what we ate. If you guessed Chinese food, you guessed right! Our final stop of the day was The Great Wall of China. It is amazing (and STEEP!). The girls wanted to climb as high as they could go, and they did (which meant we did). Some of us didn't make it as high as they did (it's not fun being old). It is amazing to think that the wall was built by so many men that far into the mountains. It truly is one of the great wonders of the world. Tonight after dinner (pizza, YUM!), we started packing. Tomorrow morning, we leave for Guangzhou, our final destination where we will spend the remaining 14 days of our trip. And then, on Friday................. BABIES!