Originally we had planned to tour Beijing on the 19th, along with the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and one of the famous Hutongs, but Sonja recommended that we reverse the schedule as the weather was expected to deteriorate, and deteriorate it did! It snowed! And snowed, then snowed some more! Holy Toledo did it snow. Big fluffy flakes that accumulated quickly. Thank heaven the hotel had umbrellas in each room, one was put to good use on the 20th of February. First snow for this Florida girl in a long time and it was beautiful to look at, but not so much to muck through. Sonja picked us up at 9am and we headed over to Tiananmen Square with Mao's portrait over the entrance to the Forbidden City (Gate of Heavenly Peace), it's HUGE, and will hold up to 1million... we stood right about where the student confronted the tank; but the incident was never mentioned by the guide. From what we understand, the Chinese people are unaware of the attempted rebellion, there just wasn't any mention in any communication channel - and most of the young people today hadn't been born! The Square was packed as the New Year was still being celebrated (total of 7 days, and in some cases 14, as with the tailors). We made our way to the underground walkway that saved us from crossing 10 lanes of traffic, and to the main ticket office... still snowing. I had been dreaming of this for years! The Forbidden City, featured in so many of the novels I've loved, the beauty of the architecture and the chance to see how the Emperors lived... We entered the Meridian Gate, stomped through the snow, made it to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and climbed the steps, walked around the Hall of Supreme Harmony and climbed down the steps on the other side (it you stuck to the middle of the steps, it wasn't too slippery, but there were THOUSANDS of Chinese, with no sense of personal space, but saw no other tourists. Ok so I could walk you through the climbing up and down the Hall of Middle Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony, but we were getting a bit testy - NOTHING was open for viewing. I guess it was a snow day for the Forbidden City! From one end to the other, up and down, being pushed and shoved, and nothing but stairs and buildings. Yes, yes, we did see magnificent architecture, with incredible Feng Shui, exquisitely decorated buildings, the bronze vats, the marble dragons, the magnificent lions, snow and steps... but, I was so disappointed! Obviously a bad day to visit the City.
But we salvaged the day - we took our guide and driver to lunch at the Quanjude restaurant established in 1864 - now a chain through out Beijing - it is THE place for Peking Duck! And it was delicious!
It has stopped snowing by the time we left the restaurant, and with our tummies full, Sonja and Bill took us to one of the most famous Hutongs, Nanluogu Xiang - nothing like a little shopping therapy to put on in a better humor. It was a mostly pedestrian street (note the mostly) with about 5 blocks of little shops, restaurants, street vendors. I had my chop designed and found a lion hat for Erin, our granddaughter... it was a grand day after all!
Once back at the Peninsula, we tracked down the cruise desk for "pre-checkin", getting the required two copies of our passports and were advised to put out our suitcases by 11pm for transfer to the ship. Tomorrow we board Regent Seven Seas Voyager, I can't wait to settle in and unpack!
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