Things have gone pretty well as planned for us so far today. A great leisurely morning with a walk in light rain trying to locate a shopping street, unsuccessfully. We finally gave up and went to the hotel room and had a nap until we received a call at 12:30 to come down to the lobby, ‘Time to go to lunch’ from our tour guide.
Off we went to the Hutongs, originally built and occupied by the Mongols when they lived here eons ago. It is pretty basic living, less than basic. We were here in 2013 while on a China Trip. The area has vastly changed in appearance and odour, for the Olympics. They must have spent millions prior to the Games building toilets and making decent areas for the elderly and children to play in. Many of the buildings have been refaced and re-roofed,
It is not a slum area, although to us it looks like one, it is a style of living that some families chose and they pass their home down from generation to generation.
We were then bussed back to the hotel where we had a drink in the lobby before going up to the room and got cleaned up for our Peking Duck Farewell Dinner tonight.
I also checked us in on-line for tomorrow’s flight.
At 7:00 we all assembled in the lobby, looking like a different crowd that was dropped off a few hours ago. We all scrubbed upwell, hair all clean and looking like we all stopped out of a beauty saloon. Some of the clothes had never been seen on this trip!
It took 45 minutes together to the very nice restaurant, the nicest we have been in yet. The food was wonderful, the wine and beer was sufficient and we all had a lovely last evening.
The ride back to the hotel was uneventful and after we got past the nine security people who frisked us for the last time there were some hugs and handshakes as tomorrow we all start to fly to our homes, wherever they may be.
Great trip, it will take me quite a while for it all to sink in. Fellette is also looking forward to home, exercise and choir.
We hope to see all our kids within 24 hours or less and the grandchildren soon thereafter.
Walking in the rain in Beijing. We were lucky with the weather at the Wall yesterday.
At an exercise area in the little paved area as sort of a community common area outside.
Be thankful for a garden...
Bell Tower.
A coffee and a beer in the lobby after.
Joe and Lynn, fuzzy from the wine no doubt!
Us two, also fuzzy.
Riding out the rest of his life in his Hutong.
We stopped for a bit of chat in the street.
After a hard day at work...
Drum Tower.
Margaret, Ruth, Betty and Elaine.
Ready to Roll!
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