The Great Wall

Today was a wonderful day!

We were up early and had a good breakfast. Then we met our guide and 5 other families that are also here to adopt. We hopped on a bus and headed to the Great Wall. It was about an hour out of town and WOW it was really something to see. The part we were on was very steep and headed up the side of the mountain. So up we went. I was not too sure about it as I am not a fan of heights but Derek was behind me and up we went. We made it to the first tower and that was enough as it was quite windy which made it feel very cold. We got some really good pictures and some video also found a shop to get some soda as we were in desperate need of caffeine!
After touring the Great Wall we all got back on the bus and made our way back into Beijing. We stopped for a tour of a Jade Factory and had lunch there. The lunch was really good and the tour was very interesting. We learned a lot about jade and how it changes color as it ages. We bought a pendent for Robbie with a rabbit on as he was born in the year of the rabbit. It is very light in color now but as it is worn it will become more green.
This boat and bull are all carved out of one piece of jade!
After the Jade Factory we got back on the bus and headed to a very old part of Beijing. We explored a Hutong Lane, which is a very narrow street with housing on each side. Here we rode in a rickshaw and stopped for a lesson on the meaning of everyone's door way to their courtyards. It was very interesting. Our next stop was to visit a local family. We went into their home and were served tea. It was really neat to learn how they live their day to day lives in the middle of Beijing. There house had only 3 rooms. A kitchen, bed room and a main living room which also served as a bedroom for their son. The father works nearby so they do not have a car and he walks to work. Their home doesn't have a bathroom and they have to walk to the nearest public restroom that everyone in the area shares.
When we got back to the hotel we ventured out to a local supermarket to get some snacks and drinks and then we met up with the other families staying at our hotel and went out to find some dinner. We walked a few blocks from our hotel to a Duck restaurant that our guide told us about. We ordered a dinner to share and almost every dish they brought was duck in some form or another, right down to the webbing on their feet! It was interesting and although I didn't taste everything, as Derek did, it was good. The final part of the meal was them bringing out 2 roast ducks and carving them right at out table, head and all! Yes Derek even tried the brain! It is funny how every meal we have had here has had watermelon for dessert.
It was really nice getting to know these other families and getting to see pictures of the kids they will be getting next week. We will all split off on Sunday and go to the places in China our kids are from and complete their adoptions then we will all be together again next Friday when we all head to Guangzhou to complete their USA Visa's. One family has their 7 year old daughter along that they adopted from China 3 years ago, she is a real trooper and has tried so many things that I know Makenna wouldn't even touch!
It was nice to get out in the fresh air today even if it was a bit chilly, the sun was shinning brightly.
We also found out that our guide here in Beijing, Lydia, is from Harbin where we are going to adopt Robbie so it was nice to get some information on the area from someone who has lived there.
Tomorrow morning we have orientation and then they are taking us out on another tour.
Derek is already asleep and I probably should join him. I am surprised that the jet lag has not him me harder as I am tired right now but not nearly as bad as I thought I might be.