Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Wiped Out

By this time, 10 years ago, I think I was out cold on the hard hotel bed.

John and I had spent the day touring the Forbidden City, which seemed not only Forbidden but Forever (as in going on forever and ever and ever...). Chops were purchased, food was consumed, and pearls were oohed and aahed over.

We were not a major source of tourist spending on our trip. I had not learned that if you see it and love it, buy it now because you won't probably see it elsewhere. So different from the US, where many things are replicated, or you could just get another one in the next large town. Although I wonder if that has changed since our 2003 trip.

As I recall, I spent a bunch of bus time looking at Sarah's picture, and counting down the time. Deb was the official "clock" of our group, with frequent updates on our time until Gotcha Day.

I was completely exhausted when I got back from 10 hours of touring. But it was a good, happy tired. I just wished I could sleep better on those beds.

Related Links/Previous Stories:
http://thewallsofstpaul.blogspot.com/2006/12/ach-scheiss-moments-and-day-2-beijing.htm

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

In Beijing...

By now we would have landed in Beijing, walked through the smoky, silent corridors of the new airport in Beijing. It would be 6:30 pm. Made it through incoming customs and security posts, picked up the luggage.

Oops, forgot there was a stroller with us! John & Tu race back to the luggage area to get it.
Bus ride from the airport reminds me of Chicago and trips from O'Hare into town -- including billboards in English.

Long check-in process at the hotel, set up tours, and then a surprise. Tu has an updated photo of each baby, taken in the last month. A treasure, for sure.

After gazing at the photo of the happy baby playing in her new orphanage playroom, I tuck it into my pocket journal, next to Macalester and Sydney's photos. All my babies in photos taken in the same time period -- together at last, in photographic form at least.

Check into our room, watch the WTO riots in Seattle on CNN International, eat and sleep.
I'm in China. Amazing.

Related Links/Previous Stories:
http://thewallsofstpaul.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-view-of-soon-to-be-familar-face.html

Sent using AT&T Xpress Mail

Monday, November 30, 2009

10 years ago this minute

I was sitting in a 747 in the Detroit airport, wishing I had several drinks under my belt, scared to death, waiting for take-off for Beijing.

And so, the overseas portion of our trip to Sarah began.


Sent using AT&T Xpress Mail

 
eXTReMe Tracker