3 Days In Beijing

We just spent 3 days in Beijing. Monday morning we boarded the high speed train in Shanghai and 5 hours later arrived in Beijing. Our first stop was the Temple of Heaven. Unfortunately, our tour guide was not keen on my idea of going to the Hard Rock Cafe, so we ended up back at the hotel by 5 pm.
Tuesday morning we headed to the Lama Temple before our journey to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. After hiking on the wall for awhile we headed back to the city and drove past the Olympic site. We finished with dinner at Qu Lin for Peking duck.
Wednesday we hit the ground running. We went to Tiannenman Square and the Forbidden City then finished at the Summer Palace. That evening we flew back into Shanghai. Needless to say we were exhausted but glad to have visited Beijing.

Sights is Shanghai

So today I started my first of four healthy Chinese cooking classes. We made three different dishes. Tofu salad, a noodles and ground pork dish, and vegetarian spring rolls. The way the class works is you do all the prep work and cook during class, have a tasting, then pack up the rest to take home. So needless to say, I needed lunch after class. While walking down a pedestrian street to a cafe this was hanging outside one of the restaurants along with several other dried meats.

Chinese New Year Fireworks

The Chinese really know how to party. Fireworks went on for days. Finally on the 5th night I felt like I was in a war zone. Here is a little picture of what we were experiencing at midnight.

Getting accustomed to a serviced apartment

So part of the deal with our apartment is that housekeeping comes in twice a week to clean and change the sheets. Believe me, the thought is great but you cannot begin to imagine how uncomfortable it is to just sit there and watch two people clean up around you. I feel like a little kid that sits on the couch as mommy vacuums around me while raising my feet up out of their way. For that reason my Monday and Thursday ritual is to vacate as soon as they knock at the door. My new favorite hideout is Starbucks, although it would be more fun to be sitting here with a friend talking and catching up. But in an hour I will head back up to a clean apartment and drunk from the bliss that is a delicious Venti Hot Chocolate. My problems here are pathetic, aren't they?

New Scooters

Fall in Shanghai

So far the Fall season has been very pleasant. We finally received our shipment today. Winter clothes just in time. Jeff and I picked up two electric scooters on Monday. I have used mine a couple of times, but I must admit that it is a little scary. Shanghai traffic is all horns and anticipating what everyone else is going to do. Maybe the subway isn't so ad after all. But I do have to admit, the are super cute.

Learning the Ropes

We have officially been in Shanghai for 6 weeks now.  Katie is in school and couldn't be happier.  She told me she liked it better than Talbot, which sort of made me sad.  She misses her friends but loves everything her new school offers.  She has swim for P.E., which got off to a rough start but is now one of her favorite classes.  She was selected for student council and is trying out for the 4-5 grade production.  On top of all of that, we have her starting violin lessons this week and Girl Scouts on Friday.  Jeff's job is going really well and we have met other expats, which make getting to know Shanghai that much easier.  We are checking out getting a VPN which will make getting on Facebook and this blog much easier.  I will post new pictures soon and keep everyone up to date with what is happening here in Shanghai.