Beijing MAY 15, 2013

  Warren, Lynda and Jaki arrived at out hotel around 9 am. We had arranged for a guide with a nine person van to meet us at our hotel- The Dongfang. We were told we could fit in 3 to 4 adventures into the day so we planned to see The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, The Olympic Village, and if possible, the Pearl Market (mostly knock offs - no so much actual pearls). When Ya, our guide arrived in a six seat van with himself and the driver taking up two of the seats, he informed us we would only have time for one site because we had three factories to go to. We said no Factories. The guides get a cut of anything you buy. He said impossible so we left him and walked to the Forbidden City and hired Laura onsite to guide us. Cost 200 RMB or $40 for a tour hour walking tour for the 6 of us. Not bad. It was an informative tour and by now we had walked four hours without a break. Stopped at a Roast Duck restaurant as the Day-Balas had not eaten. Peking Duck in Peking (Beijing) was enjoyed by the meat eaters. We walked to Temple of Heaven because the taxi drivers won't take us for some reason. Too many people? Too short a ride?  Wrong direction? Not enough money?  Who knows. Temple was closing when we finally got there so we went to Starbucks for coffee and wifi which did not work and then shopped at the Pearl Market.  I took a non registered cab with the DayBalas back to the hotel while the skittish Larraine and Tamara chose to walk the hour rather than risk the cab. Larraine won't get in a tuk tuk. Not sure what she going to do I'm Vietnam. 

Picked up our race packages with shirt, passes, and bib numbers, packed to check out tomorrow and collapsed in bed with very tired feet- disappointed we had not found a foot massage all day.