Beijing on our own.

I got up at 6:30 and accomplished the first part of one of my goals; to run in each country. Not to train but just to say I ran. So off I went in a light rain over what was now familiar territory. I received some curious looks, flashed a peace sign or two, and even made a stop to help an elderly gentleman who had slipped and fallen on the wet sidewalk. 32:30 later and I was back cooling off by the hotel. That's an exact time by the way.

No guide.
Just a map, and a willingness to hail a taxi. $2.53 to get there.

Everybody had ideas. So we shared the decision making. I was insistent that we go to the Bell and Drum Towers. Verdict: Win!

Both towers were amazing! The rain had lessened, the wind picked up and by the time we left the towers, the sun was out. Only the wind did not stop.

As we were about to enter the Drum tower, a Chinese gentleman said to me, 'No. Go to the Bell Tower. Come back here at 11:30 for the performance.' He was right. So off to the Bell Tower, about a hundred yards away through a parking lot.

 The Bell Tower, the bell, and the method for ringing it. Before clocks, these two towers signaled the beginning and the end of the day.

These are replica drums in the Drum Tower. Only one original drum still exists and it is in sad shape.

What they sound like:

Both towers required serious climbing; 69 in the Drum Tower alone but, oh, so worth it! We had great views of the city from each tower which meant great pictures and even though it said No Video, no one said a word and everyone in attendance taped it.

After that, hail a cab and head to Ti'anamen Square. We know it from the Student Revolt in 1989 and the man who faced down the tank. The Chinese don't know very much about that.

Getting to the gates and the square is like crossing to the Arc d'Triomphe in Paris; you have to go under the road, and through security. Ti'anamen Gate as it is known is an incredible structure, and the one to the south of it, Qi'anmnen Gate is its equal. Qi'anmen is a restored area, made to look like Beijing would have looked in 1949 and except for McDonald's and KFC it is probably pretty close. It is a lot like Legacy Village or Crocker Park.






































Back underground to Mao's Mausoleum, the People's Monument, the square proper, and more Chinese who wanted their pictures taken with Debbie and Bernie. After that, the question was, 'Where is the hotel?' Daniel Boone said less than a mile and he was right. After crossing back under the road again, we soon were back at the end of the pedestrian mall on Wangfujing Street which was just closing to traffic. Back to the jewelry store, to Starbucks for black tea, and then inside of St. Joseph's Cathedral.

We ate next door, and retired because tomorrow is Xi'an and the city of the Terracotta Warriors.