Saturday March 12th, 2011- Last Day in China

This was are last day in China/ Beijing. We went to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and a huge shopping complex. We got to go off on our own, which was a bit odd since we couldn’t really do that all trip.

I kind of wish we had a tour guide for the portion of Forbidden City. I knew a little bit about its significance but not a lot. I feel like it would have meant a little more if I had someone guiding us around, because this place was HUGE!

There were different rooms for everything, changing, bathing, etc. It was insane. Also the architecture of all the rooms/ buildings was incredible as well.

After we looked around Forbidden City we went over to Tiananmen Square. They were all in one straight line, one right after another so it was pretty easy to get to; well at least we thought so. We found out later on that you couldn’t just cross the street to get places you had to go under the road like a tunnel and walk through some other place. I am guessing because the streets were so busy and there were so many people.

Tiananmen Square was really interesting. It was interesting to me because I have watched so many films about this Square itself that it was weird to be actually in it. It was just a square of pavement but its significance was HUGE!

After this we went shopping! My favorite thing to do. Elise, Abbie, and I bargained until our heads fell off basically. I got a lot of gifts for people and then some for myself as well.

The real adventure was when Elise and I were almost LOST in Beijing. We left the shopping plaza around six. We were smart and wanted to be back before dark. What Rob failed to mention was that the route we came wouldn’t be still open when we were walking back. So our intended path that we knew back was blocked. Therefore it messed our whole sense of direction up.

Elise and I wanted to get a cab back, and be done with walking for the day. We went up to two or three cops asking if they knew where we should stand to get a cab, none of them knew English. You would think they would?

So when that plan failed we went up this lady who was selling pamphlets about the Great Wall she knew English. She told us the right direction to go thank god for her. We went over to that direction and still weren’t finding a cab.

This Chinese guy came up to us speaking English and talking about how he wishes to go to the America someday. He then went on to say he does artwork and that he would love for us to see it in his shop. HE WANTED US TO GO INTO THIS BUILDING WITH HIM. Of coarse we didn’t but it totally reminded me of a line from the movie Taken. Finally Elise and I were like no but could you help us get a taxi.

Long story short we got a blue and yellow taxi back to the hotel. When we got back to the room Elise and I were so excited.

The next day we boarded a plane back Burlington VT.