The Forbidden City & Tienanmen Square

Our tour guide from CCAI, named George did a great job of "lightly" introducing us to Beijing. It was raining like crazy so we did the tours in the opposite order that George would usually give them in. We started in "Old Beijing" where we got to ride in rickshaws through the narrow alleys and meet the patriarch of a family who has lived in this same location in Old Beijing for 150 years. We then went to a silk factory, which was really interesting- the silk and all of the treasures they produce are incredible. Then we had an "authentic" Chinese lunch (which was not all that different from the USA's Chinese food). It was great, and then we walked though Tienanmen Square and on into the Forbidden City.

We've met 8 other families that we will be traveling with. Of the 9 families- 6 of them are here to adopt little boys! Most of them seem to be cleft lip and palate stories. Connor has a new BFF, Sofia, she is also 5 and was adopted from China when she was a year old. They held hands and their new found friendship made the day much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. IT was very cute to see them together; she is a cutie pie to say the least. Sofia is here with her mom and dad to adopt a little brother who is 13 months old.

The Chinese continue to be in love with Connor. People came up to us all day wanting to take photos with him. A few teenage girls were even kissing him on the cheek for photos. I honestly wanted Shea or I to be holding his hand most of the time because I thought someone might steal him. O lordy, I can only imagine what it would be like for Kaleigh & Taylor Paoli or Mackenzie Moore- the little blonde girls would really be in trouble!

Since Conman has been up since 3:30 am and we just came back to the hotel at 4pm he has wholeheartedly crashed for a nap. If today was "Beijing Light" I wonder what those other tours are like.

We are planning to stay in our hotel for dinner tonight for dinner- mostly because you can order American Food and we want to make sure the little dude eats before we try to get him to sleep again tonight! We are off to the Great Wall of China early tomorrow morning!