Today we went to the Sumner Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Both are located in Beijing. The thing about Beijing is there is over 20 million people in this quaint little hideaway. Walking on the sidewalks you would never guess it. However sitting in traffic makes me yearn for a 10 car pile-up in the rain on a Monday night. The events we go to are maybe only 20 miles away but it is at least a 40 minute drive anywhere.
Myriam, Mady and Michael had been to the Summer Palace before; it is one of Myriam's favorite spots. The summer palace is now a park / historic site and the kids loved running a playing together. The adults were in awe of the painting and workmanship. Michael had told Nolan about the concrete boat built during the Ming dynasty. The boat actually sailed once as a sign of the Ming Dynasty engineering.
Before the Summer Palace we went to the Temple of Heaven. Originally built in the 14th century for the emperor to come and pray for good harvests and good weather it is now a large 280 hectors (acres) park. The local citizens can go there to exercise. they do what they call square dancing (because they dance in a square) Americans would call it line dancing in fact they were dancing to the "Boot Scoot Boogie" while we were there.
later we went to a Gymnastics show that was quite impressive. Everything from traditional gymnastics, to guys doing incredible single hand handstands to 8 motor cycles in a metal ball (death ball)
Finally we were back at the apartment for dinner and bed. Tomorrow we tackle the great wall then pack for home on Friday. we leave a t 4:55 PM on Friday and return home to SeaTac at 1:00 PM on the same Friday. This entire trip has involved fuzzy math. I expect someone to explain the entire math to me when I get home.
I am going crazy trying to upload photos. I may have to continue this blog for a few weeks just to get all the pictures uploaded and believe me they are worth it.
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