Man, this jetlag/sleeping business is really tough! I haven't
travelled this far for many many years. Well really ever, but I don't
remember being this messed up when I went to New Zealand/Australia 10
yrs ago? But maybe youth helped, and the fact it wasn't so far!
Anyway, I can't sleep, so I thought I'd check in!
Sophie and James are zonked out, still. She went to bed at 5:30pm, and it's not 12:30am - will she make it thru till 4 or 5 am?
That is my hope! James' superior sleeping skills are definitely
working to his advantage right now. The only thing he is struggling
with, is a migraine headache. Poor guy. He got it on the plane over,
which I can't even imagine how sucky that was. I was so uncomfortable
WITHOUT a migraine. And he didn't even complain. It stuck with him
about 1/2 of the day yesterday on our sightseeing. Again, he is a
trooper. He even had a visible bruise pop through on his forhead from
it. I feel for all of the davis', and anyone else who had to deal with
migraines. But he said it was better last night before going to bed.
It's pretty much clockwork with him - the day or so after he is super
stressed, and can finally relax, it hits him hard.
I'm sharing a few pics from our sightseeing. Beijing
is an interesting city. Some of the parts really reminded us of DC -
walking around the tienamin square with all the museums and monuments
and stuff. And of course the massive crowds of people. We walked a lot
yesterday, but totally lucked out that the weather was perfect for it.
Probably about 75-80 degrees, cloudy, with some sprinkles of rain while
we were at the forbidden city. Sophie got VERY tired towards the end
of the FC - after walking about 3 miles in the crowds, listening to
Alice tell us about the history of China, she was a little over it. But
thank God it wasn't hot, cause I think that would have put her over the
edge! Once we got some lunch in her, and coca cola, and sitting break,
she perked back up.
We got to experience the subways (super easy to
use), buses, rickshaws and walking yesterday. Of course the rickshaws
were our favorite! It was surprising how pretty much everywhere we
went things were translated into English. Now granted we were in the
touristy areas, so I guess that makes sense. But still, even without
our guide, I think we could have navigated pretty well. Alice has been
great, though. She's lived in Beijing for 12 years, and is a wealth of
info, and really sweet. Also very good with sophie, which helped.
The old Hutong area, was neat, and you'll see a
picture of us with an old woman. We got to go see her home in the
Hutong - beautiful courtyard, and 9 rooms where she lives with 3
generations of her family. It was so quiet and peaceful there -
shocking, considering it's smack in the middle of the city, but not
really any cars in the Hutong, so you couldn't hear a thing. She was
very kind, and kept saying how beautiful sophie was, and how happy she
was that we were adopting a little girl from here.
Oh, and Sophie was like a celebrity, like many of
you had told us she would be. In Tienamen square, many people came up
to her and asked to take her picture, or for her to join them in a pic.
She was a sport about it, and did it a few times. We really didn't see
that many westerners, which I was surprised by. It's summer break, so
the majority of the tourists we saw were chinese families visiting
beijing, it seemed like. And I guess if people are visiting from smaller
cities, they really don't see tall blonde people in real life very
often! So sophie and james were a big hit.
In conclusion (haha) Beijing is a pretty cool city,
if you like huge cities. It is fun to explore, but the crowds get to
you, and I think 2-3 days here will be plenty for me. Also the history
and buildings so far are pretty amazing - Chinese history, both
politically and culturally, with all it's dynasties is very complex,
which James is eating up. I can't keep track of all the emporers and
leaders, but of course he's on top of it.
Oh, and we are TERRIBLE at trying to speak Mandarin.
I struggle with even thank you. I don't know how people get it?
Alice says one thing, and I just can't make it sound the same? So we
are making up our own language, and being very silly about it in our
room. Maybe that's the lack of sleep, but we're cracking ourselves up.
I see all these beautiful little girls walking
around, and see Cora in so many of them. In TWO days we will finally
meet her!! More beijing sightseeing tomorrow (summer palace, kung fu
show at night, and i forget the other big park area). Then the Great
Wall on Sunday. Then off to He Fei on Sunday evening at 5pm.
Okay, back to bed for me to try to get a few more hours of sleep. Until tomorrow!
Michelle
[note: This message delayed from Friday, July 26th]
[note: This message delayed from Friday, July 26th]
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