On our first day we figured out the subway to find our hotel- the PentaHotel- which was kind of hipster. I liked it.
On our first full day we went to the Forbidden City. We got there early, before the gates opened. We pushed through along with the crowds through each gate before entering. It was spectacular to think of the pomp and circumstance.
While there we found a side gallery with far fewer people. It was peaceful and you could more easily imagine an emperor walking there.
After we finished we enjoyed some Popsicles before going out for our first Chinese dinner. I picked a place that had "We speak English" across the window. It was very good. Matt has enjoyed learning Chinese, I appreciated the pictures in the menu.
On our second day we took a tour. We visited a jade factory, Ming Tombs, the Great Wall of China, an herbal medicinal place where we got foot massages (and doctors checked our hands to learn that Matt needs to keep his kidney healthy and I have a hormone imbalance, so...) and a tea house, where we tasted five traditional teas.
At the Ming Tombs the emperors honored their ancestors.
We walked along the Great Wall amazed by the way it goes on and on curving around the mountains. It was incredible to walk along it.
We really loved our walk on the Wall. It feels like our trip in Beijing is complete, just by being there. Now we're off to Mongolia to ride across the steppe!
