We boarded our plane that would take us from Atlanta to Chicago and then over the North Pole to Beijing. We were met in Beijing by a GWCA guide and headed to our hotel on the outskirts of Beijing.
Sept. 12
No, I did not skip a day, we just lost a day flying to China. Today we went on a tour arranged for us by Delight Travel. We toured the Summer Palace, the Beijing Zoo (to see the Pandas, of course), and the Temple of Heaven. We got some time to buy pearls and I bought a couple of bracelets for my mom and aunt and some things for Ella. The final thing that we did today was have tea at the Imperial Tea House. We went back to our hotel and met our GWCA guides for the first time. We have been assigned to Jeanne and David. Tomorrow we will tour Beijing with them.
Sept. 13
Today we climbed the Great Wall. This is no small feat. In my mind, I was trying to picture all those people who created this marvel. The stairs are all different sizes and widths depending on where you are on the wall.
We also went to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City (Imperial City is the correct name). Tiananmen Square is huge. We were very impressed with the vastness of both the Square and the Imperial City. But, it was hotter than heck and I think we were all pretty tired by the time we did the long march through the Imperial City.
Tomorrow we will leave to get the BABIES!!!! Some how our wonderful guides arranged for us to get our babies on a Sunday when the Provincial Administrative offices are normally closed. Not only that, we get to do all of our paper work for the babies tomorrow. Woohoo! A whole week in Chongqing to play with our baby.
Our guides have worn us out will all the walking. This is great since I am too tired to worry about the baby and tomorrow. I am definitely going to get some sleep tonight.
Sept. 14
We got her!!!!! After about a 2 1/2 hr plane ride, we landed in Chongqing. We were met by our local guide, Marie who was going to assist Jeannie. She briefed on the bus into the city, but I have no idea about what she was saying. I was way too excited to think. Our bus pulled up to the curb and we got off. I was thinking that we were going to walk to the Civil Affairs office. Instead, they told us to go through the liquor store and take the elevator to the 4 th floor!Talk about strange. I visions of telling Ella that we picked her up in a liqour store! It was mayhem when we finally got up stairs. Babies were crying, parents were crying, nannies were crying. Finally, they called our name. We had spotted Ella when we walked in. She was so beautiful and so tiny. She cried and cried and finally calmed down and took a little nap. Beth and Dan got Anna a few minutes after we did. Anna is gorgeous too. But, boy, was she mad!
After about 2 hours, we headed back to the hotel and Ella aka Yingzi Mei (what her nanny called her) took a little nap. Then we bathed her and fed her for the first time. Oh, how wonderful!