Day 2 in Beijing

Today has been another wonderful day. Paul and I have been LOVING the experiences we have had so far – completely meeting our expectations!

We met our entire travel group at breakfast this morning. Breakfast is a big buffet at our hotel and it was really yummy! There was a wide variety of food available and a lot of it is western food. There was, however, some food that we wouldn’t normally see at a breakfast buffet, such as salad, corn on the cob, and rice with egg.

AM, Lianne, and Shauna, Paul completely agrees with you about the coffee – it even looks like tar! Let’s just say that he and a few other members of our group were thrilled when they found the Starbucks today. ;-) He did, however, attempt to drink the coffee at breakfast. It didn’t help that he mistook the yogourt for milk and added it to his coffee! Had a few good laughs about that one – and he still drank it!

After breakfast we exchanged our money for yuan, at the hotel. Then we headed out for a walk and to find a place to buy bottled water. On Lianne’s advice (she stayed at the same hotel three years ago), we headed to the Oriental Plaza.

As we were walking there, we took in the sights of the city, listening to the incessant honking of car horns. The area in which we are staying is quite modernized, but there are still sights that let you know you are in China and not in North America.

At the shopping center we shopped for new shoes for Leanne (her feet were really sore in the shoes she had brought), and then we found the supermarket. We had a blast shopping for a few treats and some drinks – so much fun to explore the food and products that we have never seen before. It also allowed us to check out items we may need for the kids, once we return to Beijing.

On our way back to the hotel, which was around noon, we were really feeling the effects of the heat. There was a visible amount of smog by this time and the humidity is definitely much higher than we are used to in Canada. On the whole, it isn’t as bad as I had expected.

This afternoon we all decided to take it easy – which meant naps for Paul and I for a few hours. We know that tomorrow is going to be a BIG DAY and we want to be rested and as prepared as possible.

We went back to the mall for dinner with most of the group and the food was yet again fantastic – and soooo cheap!! We spent the evening hanging out together in the lobby, chatting and getting to know one another better. The only thing I am finding difficult is the smoking indoors that happens here – not so great for my lungs. Oh well – all par for the course.

We had a fabulous full day in Beijing and it has been a wonderful experience.

Journey of a lifetime!