Day 3 ~ Beijing ~ Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings. It is three times the area of the Forbidden City. It was built in 1420 for emperors to worship Heaven.

In the picture above and below I tried to show how there were two walls.  The outer wall was square and the inner round. 

The Imperial Hall of Heaven.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a magnificent triple-gabled circular building built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests. The building is completely wooden, with no nails.  All the building in the complex have blue roofs to represent Heaven.

It was magnificent!!

food ~ Beijing

In Beijing we had a variety of different kinds of food.  This was my most favorite.  It's pan fried noodles.  They have this huge slap/brick of dough that they slice off noodles.  It was cool to watch. 

When we arrived to this restaurant Lisa would not tell us what we were having.  We were game and tried it all.  Most of it was good.  There were a few dishes that we tried but didn't care for.  We guessed it was tofu and we were right.  All of it was tofu.  It was good.  Although I don't think I'll ever order tofu I now know I enjoyed it. 

This was the most strange looking dish.  Shrimp with heads still on. :/  It was difficult to eat, but I did.

By the end of our trip we all wanted American food.  One night we almost blew off what Lisa had planned for pizza.  But we stuck it out and had the full experience.  



family dinner

Thursday night, before the wedding in Vegas, we went out to celebrate with family.  It was Larry's, Brian's dad, 70th birthday. 

I don't think I've ever seen a burrito so large.

This two were sung to and then they tried to give them a shot of some "Mexican water" to celebrate.  McKinzie finally realized it was Tequila.  She has never closed her mouth so fast.  :D

They also sang to Bailee and Larry for their birthdays.  It was a fun night.

After dinner we took the kids to the Strip.  I remember years ago about a show at Treasure Island.  It's not was it used to be.  It was not a family friendly show.  We did walk down the street to see this volcano erupt.  Very cool!

another late night

Last night we stayed up late with thousands of other Twilight lovers and went to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn Part 1.  I invited some friends to join us and the hours before the movie went by very quickly.

Well...we loved it!!  I thought it ended in a perfect spot.  But now I want more.  I want the final installment and more sleep. 

Day 2 ~ Beijing ~ Olympic Village

Before our day was over we went over to the Olympic Village.  When I saw this through the van window I thought for sure we were close.  It looks like the Olympic torch!!

 

 It's actually a hotel designed to look like a dragon.  Do you see it?  Kinda cool!

I wasn't sure you would remember a previous post about how they arrange their tables and chairs.  In ancient times Chinese people believed that heaven is round and earth is square.  So all the restaurants were arranged like this. 

The Olympic Village is no different.  That's why the Bird Nest and the Water Cube are placed where they are, heaven is round and earth is square.

The Water Cube Aquatic Center is still being used.

The Bird Nest Stadium is not.  They don't even let anyone go inside.  She said there's no reason to give tours, there's only chairs inside.  But I want to see those chairs.  It's not just a stadium.  It's an Olympic stadium!  I think it would be cool to go inside.

committed or insane?

Between the day my Dad passed away, October 17, and the wedding reception here, November 12, I only ran three times.  Those weeks were so busy with travel and planning that there really wasn't an opportunity to run.  I have only 15 more day to train before the 5K.  I'm not sure I'll be ready.  I've been doing really good.  I think I'm running the distance, I still need to drive it.  I feel I've really lost stamina because I haven't made it happen regularly. 

Today as I'm getting ready to run, two shirts and a hoodie, ear warmers, gloves... Karlee called me committed.  The temperature outside was 35.  There have been other days, when it was in the 40s, I blew it off and didn't run.  I'm not sure I'm committed, perhaps more insane.  I do know that when you're insane you become committed.  So obviously they go hand in hand. ;)

I now understand the high from running.  I bought me a new pair of jeans the other day and I had to buy a size smaller! Running might be my new addition. :)

Hoover Dam

On our way to Vegas we decided to stop and look at a dam.  I was more impressed than the kids and I've seen it before.  All of them wanted to be done with the drive.  We were close. 

 This is the new bridge that was built since 9/11. 

 I really miss mountains.