Beijing - Day 1

Today we toured the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and took the pedicab ride through a Hutong (old Beijing neighborhood). Since this is my fourth time on this trip, the route and sights are pretty much the same, but that doesn't mean it's any less exciting. I enjoyed taking fewer pictures this time, and actually just absorbing the surroundings. Do you ever do that? Sometimes I focus more on getting decent pictures, and that way the memory is preserved forever, but I don't fully appreciate the moment while I'm there. So, today was more about getting to know the fun people in our travel group, and really just looking around at what was right in front of my face. 

And what was in front of my face, you ask? People. Lots of people. Sweaty people. It was hot and crowded! This is high season for Chinese tourists to visit their own capital, so we were part of a very large crowd. 

One thing that was different this time was that we ate lunch in the Hutong house. We were served several traditional Chinese dishes. They were all yummy. It was a very cool experience, but we didn't really get to hear from the people who live there in the house, which was always an interesting part of the Hutong tour. 

The group is great! Fun people! There are only 5 families in this group, which makes it the smallest one I've been in. They are all first time parents as well, which makes us the old, experienced people or something like that! 

While the day was great and the sights were interesting, one of my fellow travel mates summed it up when she mentioned that it was all really cool to see, and the things our guide was telling us were very informative, but she couldn't absorb any of it because in the back of her mind the whole time was the constant thought that in just a few days, we will be meeting our babies. Maybe it's because I've seen all this before, or maybe it was just because we were hot and tired, but I find myself constantly thinking that all this is great, but I can't wait to just get to Zhengzhou and meet my little Leah! 

That day will come so soon! One more day or touring here and then we fly to ZZ. Gotcha Day will happen while all of you are going about your Sunday evenings (Monday morning China time). I can't wait!