Filling in the gap ...

So far, I know I've only talked briefly about first impressions and posted some of our first photos, so I thought I would describe Beijing a little bit more for those of you stateside.

Despite what people may think, Beijing is a very friendly, laid back town. People here, while enjoying ripping us off for 10 cents here and 5 cents there, seem to put up with us few anglo tourists with great patience and a necessary sense of humor.

The people are also very social. While you will see individuals mulling down the streets to get here or there, most of the time people here are in groups, or with close friends or family members. It is not out of the ordinary to see a daughter or son escorting an elderly grandparent to go shopping or to go walking in the park, a young couple playing with their adorable little children, or best friends, no matter what sex, walking arm in arm or hand in hand.

Games are also very popular, especially with the older gentlemen. Walk by open doorways at night in the hutongs, and you will see cards, dominoes, and go games which will draw crowds of onlookers to take in the action. These games are played everywhere, from the park to the street outside their shop.

While Beijing is a fantastic city with a lot of things to see, walking around the city can be daunting at times because of the pollution and the sheer scale. City blocks are very big, and what looks to be a short distance on the map will take hours to trek. Yesterday alone Ted and I walked for about seven hours, but as always, Beijing by foot is the best way to experience the city. Why? Because it is only off of the main streets do you find the hutong, which are a world unto themselves in Beijing. I don't have any pictures yet to really show you what it is like, but let's just say that the noise from the streets fades far away as hordes of shoppers come to these back alleys for everyday goods. Need some used shoes, fresh vegetables, or delicious baozi? Everything can be found in these tiny little alleys, which are well-trafficked during the day, and off-the-hook crazy at night.

Even though it is raining today, Ted and I are still going to brave the crowds to visit the Forbidden City on the National Day. And because we are taking in the local traditions, we are going to make a stop at one of the biggest shopping districts in Beijing, Xi Dan. Check out Ted's blog later to see some of the best products we could find.

Bye for now!