Beijing day 3

On the move!!! Day three had us starting at the Jade factory and then off to the Great Wall. The Great Wall has been our favorite. We had two routes to pick, we chose the steeper route because it was a shorter walk to the first signal tower. Talk about steep! Some steps seemed few inches high and other were 18 inches high. Definitely got our exercise in! We had lunch at the cloisonné factory - rice, duck, shrimp (with their eyes still attached), Chinese whiskey, celery, French fries, chicken and much much more.

We then headed to tour the city to see the Olympics birds nest and the cube. All in all a very cold day since we were outside most of the day. Saw a Chinese acrobat show around dinner time, too. To say the least we have been exhausted. We went to bed at 8:30 and enjoyed some pretzels for our dinner.

There have been such extremes for temperature, we have either been freezing or sweating. One day the bus driver had the heat at 85 degrees and yesterday it was so cold that ice formed on the inside of the windows. The thermostat never worked in the hotel room, but thankfully I figured out if I jiggled the window latch enough, I could get it open. ( sshhhh don't tell). We slept with the window open the other night ago, but it it pretty much smelled like a bus stop/foundry in the morning. Pollution is pretty bad.

Speaking of which, We are now waiting at the airport in Beijing and the flight is delayed - maybe fog but more likely its smog. We should have Matthew in the morning!!! Can't believe it!!! I have been experiencing a lot of discomfort in my tooth that was repaired the day before I left. think I may be dealing with an infection in the gum from my root canal. I started the antibiotics I brought this morning to hope I can get past this. I would appreciate any prayers for the tooth and for Matthew as his world is set be flipped upside down.