Tuesday, March 29 - AiYO!!

As TingTing says, AiYO!!  (Pronounced Eye-yo)  It's a Chinese expression for surprise or disbelief, or even if you get hurt.  It's also been described by our new friend here in Beijing, Kirsty, as being most used by older people as a saying like our English, "Land sakes!" or "Oh my!" Well, our 3 year old says it ALL the time (undoubtedly picked it up from her Nannies at the orphanage) and now that we know what she is saying, we find ourselves saying it too!  And as I think about where we are in our trip, that's the phrase that comes to mind.  AiYO!  Land Sakes - we're only half way through!  It's feeling long as our only two real choices are to be 1) in our hotel room - which is feeling small and close for all of us at times, or 2) out in this overstimulating city full of lights, people, noise, and taxis that drive on the sidewalks!  We're only a little over half way through our trip so we don't really get to go home any time soon.  However, we are feeling glad to be moving on to a different city in just a couple of days.

Today we went to the Summer Palace as our main sightseeing place.  It was really a very nice place to visit.  Not nearly as crowded as Forbidden City, although still plenty of people.  But it also had the feel of walking around a large park in places.  Ting Ting was much more relaxed even with lots of people around.  She seemed to like the chance to walk around and explore.

The Summer Palace is where the Emperor and his family went for the summer back in I think the late 1700's-early 1900's.

The whole thing is quite picturesque.  It has a big lake in the middle and has lots of bridges, walkways, gazebos, as well as the main buildings.

She had fun meandering around this place.  Lots of unique places to walk!

The lake, as well as the buildings around the other side of the lake, are all part of the Summer Palace.  These emperors didn't take summer vacation lightly apparently!

A big long corridor, with painted beams and sides all the way down.

TingTing tried out riding on Baba's shoulders for the first time.  She seemed to like it!

The bridge of 17 arches.  With 17 arches, the 9th arch is directly in the middle.  9 was an important number in ancient China, so they made the 9th column the middle.

On Baba's shoulders!  On the right, this is our guide, Theresa who has helped us since we got to Beijing.

We noticed several trees with big fat white buds on them.  This place is going to be really pretty in a few weeks!

 Like I said, the Summer Palace was our main sightseeing place today.  We did do several other things, but this time I think I may have to wait to blog about those until tomorrow.  (Sorry!)  I am just so incredibly tired - too many late nights at this computer!  The trouble is, the longer I sit here and try to finish, the slower I go, and the longer it takes!  I'll see if I can get on sometime tomorrow during the day so that I can have a separate post to finish out today's things, before I sit down tomorrow night to do tomorrow's stuff!


I will however do the three things we are thankful for today...


1.  That it is America that we get to come home to.  For all of it's imperfections, we have a very blessed life there with so many rights that we forget are not always granted in all countries.


2.  That we haven't been hit by a car or bus!  Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way here - even on the sidewalks!

3.  For the two big sisters waiting at home for this sweet little one.  She is going to LOVE them!  I can hardly wait for them to meet each other!

and