Tienanmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

Stick a fork in me, I'm done. Or Chopsticks if you prefer...

Today we started out at 6am. We had breakfast and headed out at 8:30 to Tienanmen Square. It was over 100 degrees (Celsius I believe) and about 98% humidity. Within minutes of getting off our bus, we were drenched. The pictures look slightly out of focus - that's fog/smog. Visibility is about 2 blocks. Tienanmen Square is big and filled with very persistent street vendors trying to sell you stuff. Don't make eye contact and keep saying "Boo Yaow" (Don't Want). You can buy cold water from the street vendors very cheaply. Here is what you need to know about Tienanmen Square: its big, flat, and mostly under construction. The school aged Chinese kids kept wanting to take pictures with the school aged kids in our group. Americans are very popular here. Walking, walking...

The Forbidden City is very big, very old, and filled with giant cauldrons, colorful architecture, and a nice garden at the end. There are lots of huge courtyards filled with more vendors. And lots of people. Beijing has 20Million people and have of them are visiting the Forbidden City. There are lots of stairs and doorways and corridors. And eventually you make your way through and as you exit, there are more vendors. Lots more. Walking, walking...

We then went to a restaurant and had some Authentic cheap Chinese food. Nothing to write home about.

But this particular restaurant is also a "friendship" (Government) store. We did some harm to the trade balance. But they took credit cards and shipped it for use. Laura got a porcelain tea set for Zoe and some other things.

Then back on the bus and an hour drive to the Great Wall. By this time everyone is draggin, but a few people made it to the top. It is a steep climb. Climbing, Climbing...

Then back on the bus and back to the hotel. I crashed on the way back. Too much exertion and jet lag. Made it back the room and we're packing to leave at 5am for our flight to the province. Crawling, Crawling...

I've attached some pictures - hope you can see them but I can't check.

Day 2 in China

We are both feeling better after catching up on some much-needed sleep. So far, we haven't had that startling realization that OMG! WE LEFT SOMETHING IMPORTANT BEHIND. Which is a VERY GOOD THING.

We are doing the sightseeing tour today: Teiannamen Square (sp?), Forbidden City, and the Great Wall. Its a long, hot day with temperatures over 100. I think the humidity is over 100% too. But this is our only chance, so we just gotta suck it up.

Facebook and blogger.com are definitely blocked; We have to email to the blog to get past the filters. And I can get to facebook using my phone, but can't figure out how to dial back to the states yet. The hotel here doesn't have wireless, and I only installed skype on the ipod, not the computer (Mistake!). I'm trying to install skype now, but its taking hours...

Hope all is well in the states.

Landing in Beijing

At 6588 miles, we have started our decent. I got a nap; Laura got a stuffy nose. The great thing is I don't have to reset my watch as the time difference is 12 hrs. Yeah!

Trip time 21 1/2 hours. Look forward to getting to the hotel and walking around.

Sent from my iTouch with a boost from my backup battery.

Halfway there

We just crossed the international date line north of the Bering Sea, between Russia and Sarah Palin's house.

We've met two other families who are adopting and there is at least one other. We will be traveling together most of the trip.

Tip: Get to the ticket counter early so they can check your visa and stamp your boarding pass.

Tip: Eat and try to sleep as long as possible to prep your body for the 12hr time change.

The Chinese noodles served as a wake up snack were better that the meal. Much better that raman noodles, but mostly because the broth is better.

We are stuck in the middle of the row behind the bulkhead separating us from first class. More legroom, which is wasted on us, but I recommend it over the tightly spaced rows.

Laura is playing games on her itouch; I'm listing to music on mine and writing this.

Get extra booster batteries for travel ($10 @ meritline.com). You can buy Internet access via iTunes for $2/hr in the airport.

We've gone 3851 miles and have been flying for 7 1/2 hrs. Another 5 hrs to Beijing.

Sent from my iTouch

Chicago

We are in the windy city waiting for the plane. Got some chocolates at the duty free store to give as gifts. Walked around and had lunch. All is well.

Sent from my iTouch

Fully dilated....

Well Harvey and I finished work today and we are going to spend tomorrow getting ourselves ready and getting things put together here at home so it's not disaster when we get back.

Zachary seems to be doing well with Grandma and PaPa. Just hoping he will realize we are coming back!

Trying to remember everything to tell my parents is pretty daunting. The house, the dogs, Zachary..... it doesn't seem to ever stop.

I am finding myself very anxious about the trip, and being gone for so long, maybe when I get on the plane I can let that go.

I have an amazing calmness about meeting Zoe and becoming her mom, maybe I am kidding myself and just absorbed wiht other worries, all I can think about is getting Zoe and coming home. I am hoping I am able to relax and enjoy moments.

Adoption Labor

So after getting our referral on 6/7 we are finally almost ready to leave and bring Zoe home. It has been a really long journey, and it still feels very surreal.

We will leave Richmond at 7am Thursday morning and return at 10:45pm on 8/14.

Thank goodness my parents are here to take care of Zachary. I can’t imagine how much I am going to miss him and all the things he will be doing while I am gone.

As far as we understand Facebook doesn’t work in China so this will be the best of updating people. But just know that I don’t claim to be a fabulous blogger. I will do my best and I am sure Harvey will be chiming in as well.

We get to china on 7/30 at 2:45pm and we will be in Beijing until the morning of 8/1 when we head to Nanchang and get Zoe. So in the less than 48 hours of flying half way around the world we will be parents for the second time.