Remnants of Obama`s visit ... Note the odd flag flying just to the upper left over Mao's portrait.
Kath and El outside the entrance to the Forbidden City.
Don't try to go in through that gate ... You may never come out again!
Penetrating deeper into Forbidden territory.
El proves as bored as Maeve was on her first visit to the city ... (Again, Maeve stayed back in the hotel, too feverish to accompany us. Marcus and Lucilla had her sleeping in their room, or just hanging out watching Chinese TV programs ... Unfortunately, Maeve's sickness meant we had to keep our girls apart as much as possible during our Beijing sojourn).
Talk about incongruity ... A digital display inside a gateway deep within the Forbidden City. What was playing on it? Why, footage of the Forbidden City! A meta-anachronism!
Kath and El recreate a pic taken before the same door of me holding Maeve :)
In the heart of the Forbidden City.
Note the snow ... It was colder on this morning than on our first visit here!
A dragon-turtle caught in a frozen wail about the weather.
A chill sunshine over a Forbidden City courtyard.
Forbidden skyline.
Three temples visible beyond the walled mystery City.
Snow on the rooftops.
Kath ducks in to an imperial antechamber to collect her thoughts.
A dragon statue in a small outer courtyard as we approach the end of our exploration of the City.
Dogs, dragons, and priests guard the edges of rooftops throughout the City.
A special treat for El in the spot where a Starbucks once stood (now "The Imperial Tea House") ... Her first taste of an Oreo cookie. (Some day she'll tell her high school friends 'Had my first Oreo in the Forbidden City!')
Leaving the Emperor's walled private city, we cross its great moat.
Yesterday afternoon, five of us ventured out for a little exploring of our own. Kath's dad wanted to see the Olympic site ... Here's the Bird's Nest stadium. Winds here were as bad, if not worse, than on the Great Wall!
Now that's a cold job. Guarding the base of the Nest.
A view of the "Olympic Torch" building.
One final pic, showing a pair of little nightlights near the Bird's Nest. All the spotlights around the stadium were nestled in their own little meshwork ... Quite pretty, but not as beautiful as the pair of nestlings we're preparing to take wing with! Folks, we depart for the airport in one hour, and the trip back home to Canada at last! We cannot wait to get our wee ones back home to Waterloo and tucked into bed! Elspeth has come down with whatever Maeve has, so it's going to be a very very long flight indeed ...
Thanks for all who accompanied us on the second life-adventure (and a special thanks to Carolyn Clow for posting all these pics and captions posted for us!)
8 comments:
We've been watching the blog every day for more pics- wondering how things have been going and it seems like it's been non-stop for all of you! So sorry to hear that our Maevey wasn't well - and then that our El is coming down with it too! You must all be exhausted.
We pray you have a safe trip home and can finally be together to start your new family life together.
Too thrilled for words for all of you!
Love you, safe home,
Col, Will, Chris, Kiera, Sarah and Mike
Poor Maevey and El. I hope you manage to stay healthy so that you can care for the kids without difficulty. The trip home is well underway as I write this and all I can think is that I hope it isn't too awful for all of you with your little sweeties who are under the weather.
On the bright side: you did it! You completed another life-changing journey, bringing home a beautiful second daughter in the process! You managed and coped with illness, red tape, the weather and an enormous transition for El. I know the adjustment for all with continue for months but nothing is quite as intense as the first couple of weeks, for sure.
Congratulations, my friends. With love from Edmonton,
Monica, Paul, Claire and Ren
so glad that you will be home soon! cannot wait to meet Elspeth!
love
carm
Wow, thanks all. Enjoyed all the pics. Remember so well the hall of mental cultivation, we took that pic too! Too bad it looks so beautiful weather-wise but sadly wasn't. Seems strange that it was colder than when we were there. Sad to hear the girls are under the weather. I'm sure once you're home they will be comforted by being safe and sound with their forever family. Thinking of all of you as you travel home. Can't wait to hear how your new family of four life goes. Lots of jie jie stories coming our way. Can't wait:)
Blessings, Beth
we miss you and are thinking of you every day! so glad you're on your way home! have a safe trip home - we can't wait to meet our beautiful Elspeth and to shake Maevey's hand on becoming such a great big sis! Hope they are not too sick on the flight and that they will feel better by the time you get home...we're anxious to see you, you lovely family of four! lots of love and thoughts sent your way xoxo
can't wait to meet you, sweet little El!
love,
sheila geoff miller & bram
xoxoxoxo
I'm so sorry to hear Maeve has been sick, poor girlie, she'll be so happy to get home into her own cozy bed. I hope El doesn't end up as sick as Maeve. This must have put a damper on your stay in Beijing but I know you've made beautiful memories there that will last a lifetime.
I love all the photos and they bring back lots of memories for us. We can't imagine what it must be like having double the memories as you do now with your two beautiful daughters!
You'll be on your way home now and I hope your flight was manageable with two sick girls. Soon you'll be snug in your own house -- the four Fordes -- and we are thrilled for all of you!
Thanks for sharing your journey to Elspeth with us. We were with you in spirit and enjoyed the trip so much!!
Much love,
Rae, Girard and Bryn
xxxooo
Wonderful photos! I was especially interested in the Bird's Nest photos. I bet that would be an amazing view in person.
I hope Maeve and El are feeling better, and that the adults are able to stay as healthy as possible. Take care!
Hey Pat & Kath! Maeve and El!
so happy to have the details of this large pics! many thanks for that!
love
carm
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