China Trip - Monday 11/24

This is probably the last post for a few days as I'm having surgery to repair my rotator cuff in the am. I will pick up with Tuesday 11/25 activities as soon as I'm feeling OK.

Terri and Andrew got up early to go visit a Buddhist temple and practice Tia Chi with the early morning crowd. I knew Anslee wasn't going to have any getting up early so we stayed behind.

Andrew and Terri at the temple. The Forbidden City is in the background.

A better picture of the Forbidden City.
Andrew practices his "moves".

The tree where Chongzhen, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty hung himself.
Later that morning we all visited the China Center of Adoption Affairs. This is where we were able to get a first hand look at how the adoption process works on China's side.
When you adopt from China, there is always talk about the "matching room". This is the office that matches the child to the family.

Adoptive families are usually amazed at how well the children seem to match the adoptive family. Here the workers are busy doing their thing.

We also got a look at the room that houses all of the dossiers of families in waiting.

Look at all of those files. The files are color coded to specific adoption agencies.

The children were taken into conference rooms for different activities based on their ages. At first they asked the parents to wait outside... One of the guides helps Anslee with her origami.
After visiting the Center for Adoption, we ate lunch and then headed to the Beijing airport on our way to Chongqing. Can you believe all the luggage?! I plan on doing a blog later that focuses on all of our meals. Stay tuned!

China Trip - The Great Wall

Sorry about the lag in posting, but the Holiday's have kept us busy. This blog will highlight our favorite pictures from the 11/23 afternoon visit to the Great Wall. It is a must see destination and way more impressive in person, plus you can pick up a bunch of cheap SWAG outside.

The vendors hassle you all the way to and from the Great Wall.

They had a camel that the kids could get their picture taken on. We were lucky to get this photo as normally they will cover the camels head so you can not take a picture without paying!

After the walk up the hill through the vendors we took a cable car to the top of the wall. Some people hiked it, but I'm not sure Anslee was up for that.

Anslee enjoys the view.

Andrew thought he was Godzilla, we told him that was Japanese!

The whole family on the wall.

As I'm sure some of you are aware, the Great Wall is one of just a few visible structures from space. The size is truly amazing!

There is a lot of walking to be done exploring the wall.

Some areas are very steep and you really have to watch your step.

Andrew grabs a souvenir!

Anslee needs a rest.

Here we are inside one of the old guard towers.

Next Day two, 11/24.