Today's the big day

Today was a fun but very long, hot day. It was about 35 degrees with no breeze and pretty smoggy. We shopped like crazy in the market near the hotel this morning, then enjoyed a wonderful 90 minute foot massage in the hotel spa. My feet were very grateful after all the walking in the markets. Later in the afternoon, our guide Shuo and his mom, Yufin took us to a beautiful Park called Jingshan Park which was just just spectacular. We then went to a place where you can have an Emporer's dinner, but the menu was just a little too adventurous for any of us so we went to a restaurant that was more for the locals. It was so loud in there, and it's fascinating to watch how people interact here. So far, I'm enjoying a vegetarian lifestyle here, but it's interesting to see what goes by on a plate. Ron isn't getting too adventurous with food yet, but he's really enjoying what he's trying. One of the dishes our guide ordered for us was some kind of stomach(!!!!) which of course no one ate, but I think he just ordered it for effect. Our room and bed are very comfortable, but I haven't slept well at all. There's so much to see and do and take in in such a short time that it's stimulation overload. We are leaving Beijing in just a few hours to fly to Changsha and we will go the the Civil Affairs office to get the babies shortly after we arrive. I get so weepy just thinking about it now, but I sure hope I can hold it together for Olivia's sake when we get her. It feels like it's taken so long to get here that it just doesn't seem possible to finally be at this point. Enjoy the photo's from today - the next ones will be of our sweet girl. If Doug and Connie are reading this, I hope Emma is behaving - we miss her. Hi to Aaron and Cheryl and Dale and Gisela - wish you were here with us.