Some Pics Thus Far....

I think I finally figured out the trick to getting strong Internet/VPN service here.  (I'll probably have to start over when we get to Hefei tomorrow.)  Anyhow, here are a few of our journey so far.

The first leg of our trip...almost to Tokyo!

Sitting in the rickshaw, ready for our tour...

This is the courtyard of the old house we visited.  There were rooms on all 4 sides.  Look in the pot - beautiful goldfish!

Us and the man who owned the house....He was in the military long ago and then worked in construction.  His grandfather willed the house to him and he's lived here for 60 years.  It is now worth approximately $4 million; it is one of the few pieces of private property left.  (The government owns most of the property here.)

Tim and I dressed in ceremonial honeymoon garb, sitting in the honeymoon suite (a small room with a bed and TV)

Our gang in the courtyard

This was a reggae bar in the old part of town...too funny, I had to take a picture.

Learning about how worms make silk

Silk comes from the cocoons of the worms.  See the dead worm in the corner?

The ladies made beautiful blankets from the woven silk.

Our table for yummy traditional, Chinese lunch...

In Tianenmen Square....See how hard the wind was blowing?

A stoic guard in front of the Forbidden City

Tim and me in front of the entrance to the Forbidden City

Rubbing the gold door knobs for good luck

I haven't worked up the nerve to go in one of the traditional potties here.  (I don't think my leg muscles are strong enough.)  However, I may have to before we leave.

Inside one of the palace rooms....fit for an emperor, huh?

One of the many palace buildings

This is a stone sculpture in the Imperial Garden.  All the stones were imported and the empress ruled this part of the kingdom.

One of the many sculptures featured....This one was in the garden.  Look at the feet; they are backwards.

The emperor also made a man-made mountain.  This was at its peak.

Hopefully, we'll have more to post after our adventure today....the Great Wall, the Olympic stadium, and an acrobatic show.  Miss you all!