What a day....

Last night when we got in I was so tired I feel asleep.  It is Saturday morning here, 7 am. 
FIRST, I want to tell my sweet little boy, RYAN...HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY!! 

We had a blast today.  The Great Wall, Jade Factory, and Hutong Lane Tour.  It was busy but so much fun. 


The Great Wall- What a sight to see!  Truly amazing and unbelievable!  So many steps!  I kept telling Rheagan we were going to walk on The Great Wall.. we didn't walk we CLIMBED THE GREAT WALL!!  We learned so much history about China, Beijing, and The Great Wall with our hour bus ride.  Well...suppose to be an hour-- Beijing has 22 million people in it so traffic is unthinkable!!  There are people, cars, bikes and scooters everywhere!! We learned that due to the number of people here- you have to apply to get your license and even when you get selected.. you then have to apply to the right to purchase a car.  And then once you get your car-- your license plate number lets you know when you can drive in the city or not.  Depending on your number, depends on which days you are allowed.  ITS CRAZY!!!

 

After the Great Wall, we went to the Jade Factory. Saw how they create Jade into fabulous pieces, and then how to determine real vs. fake jade!!  We had a fabulous Chinese lunch.  They served each table of 8 many different dishes so we could try out many different foods.  One thing, Rheagan learned was that they do NOT give you a fortune cookie after your meals!!  :( 

Finally we ended the day, with a tour of Hutong Lane.  It is a group of houses, more like communities that the entire family lives in.  We went inside one of the houses and learn about life in Beijing.

 

We have met some incredible friends here that are also adopting little ones.  Angie and David are from Georgia and they will be with us the entire trip.  There little one, Nicole, is in the same orphanage at Riley.  We have had a lot of fun hanging out with them and getting to know them better. 

 

okay, sorry about the delay in post.  Last night, we could not get the internet to cooperate and I was so tired.  Looking forward to another fabulous day in CHINA!!!

 

Today we get to go the Forbidden City &Tiananmen Square and have lunch with our fabulous Holt staff.  Today is the last day in Beijing!  Tomorrow we fly to Shanghai.  Guess what....we have only 48 hours left before we hold Riley!!