Beautiful,bustling Beijing

We are docked in Tienjian Sunday morning and on a bus for the 2 1/2 hr.drive to Beijing and our overnight stay in the Shangri-la China World Hotel.The city has a population of 17 million.The streets are very wide,skyscrapers dominate and there are many,many apt.
buildings.Our eyes are smarting from the pollution which imparts a slight haze to everything.

Apt.bldg.

A friend,who had seen all the tourist spots,had arranged for a car to come to the hotel at 2pm and since I had also seen the Forbidden City,Tiananmen Square,etc.I went with her.
We had a driver and a guide who spoke good English.We drove all over the city,seeing places tourists never see.We walked around the old part with lovely little shops and fast food places.There were old houses with quaint doorways that opened onto courtyards.As evening approached young people filled the small streets.

Street in old part

Shop in old part

My friend bought 2 chops for her daughter and son-in-law.Chops are stamps that are carved with the name in English and Chinese.This was done while we waited and took no time at all.She also bought the ink pad in a lovely little ceramic container.Somehow the subject of age came up and our guide was astounded to learn that my friend will be 90 in a few weeks. She told this to the man carving the chops and he was astounded so my friend was quite a celebrity and on our return to the hotel she had to take our picture to show her mother.
Myfriend and I went to a restaurant beside the hotel and had a very spicy meal.No one spoke English but the menu had pictures and we used sign language.We began with a margarita each,which was the only cocktail whose name we recognised.It was a memorable evening.
Our hotel was beautiful with a large lobby and a pianist playing lovely music.My room was large with a big TV and I was able to watch BBC TV before I went to bed.The bathroom had a bath and a very large curved shower.By the washbasin was a volume control for the TV.

Hotel lobby of Shangri la

In hotel lobby

The next morning we joined the other tour groups in one of 4 buses returning to the ship.
On the way we stopped at the Great Wall.It was windy and cold.I had climbed twice before and didn't attempt it this time.There are 13 different access points to the Wall and this was my 3rd different one.

Difficult side of great Wall

A wonderful experience but glad to be back "home"on the ship.

Beautiful,bustling Beijing

Beijing, China