Beijing, Fall 2007

The Roeloffs were blessed with GORGEOUS BLUE SKIES in Beijing in November last year (2007). Yes, yes, I know.... It has been almost a year since I last posted so we have a lot to catch up on! Kurt was traveling to Beijing for a business conference, so we piggy-backed a weekend trip out of it and really lucked out with the weather. For those of you who are not familiar with a typical fall day in Beijing, just think LA smog coupled with below zero wind chill. Coming from Singapore we had NO winter clothing, but were able to pick up some ski wear that we knew we could use after Christmas. We took the girls to visit the Great Wall, and rode the toboggan down. You could hear Anna screeching with delight all the way down, while Sophia kept yelling, ‘Faster, Faster!!!’ On the way back to Beijing we went to a factory where they made cloisonné and noticed a sharp increase in price since our last visit--on top of complaints that the French stole a traditional Chinese art form. A little unappealing, but it was still pretty cool for the girls to see the process. Kurt and I went out to dinner with a friend to this fabulous restaurant near the University where the Irish chef was really into foam. I don’t think there was a single course—of the seven or so—that did not have some form of freshly foamed edible involved. WOW! Sunday we visited the Forbidden City under blue skies before departing in the rain. What lucky duckies we were ;0)
PS If you ever visit Beijing, never assume that the pedestrian has the right of way, and be sure to wear your seatbelt!