The Long Road!

This was the longest trip ever! We left Staunton at 2:30am to head to Richmond for our 6:30 flight. Metcalfe left his wallet! So we had to turn all the way around to get it! Ms. Hartley was so sleepy that she talked and talked and never said anything. Lilly, well you guys know Lilly. He had plenty to say and no one to listen except his precious dad who volunteered to drive us. Fortunately, there were no more big stumbling blocks as we made our way to Beijing. Watching movies, solving Rubic's Cube, reading, writing in jouranls and playing word games kept us occupied but not settled. None of us could really sleep because there was little room to keep our feet.
Landing in Beijing was different than we expected. The buildings were flat, many with blue or red roofs and there were clusters of buildings then flat rural-looking land. We soon found out that the aritport was outside the city and the skyscrapers were yet to come.
The Beijing airport was phenomenal- the largest airport in the world. We were greeted with masked Chinese folks waiting to take our temperatures and see our visas. No one had a fever! Everywhere we went people had masks- but I got waved off when I tried to take pictures.
We boarded a bus that took us to our hotel- about a 35 minute ride. Our tour guide, Cho or we call him, Joe, started right away as our heads nodded constantly. All of us felt really rude but we simply coudln't do anything about it! The group was simply exhausted!!!
Our hotel is beautiful except for the beds. They are not soft and fluffy but resemble box springs!
Tomorrow Iteinerary:
4:30 Jog to Tian' anmen Square to hear the national song and to watch the flags being raised. This ceremony happens every day much the way we have announcements, the moment of silence and say the pledge.
8:30 Tour of Forbidden Gardens
7:00 Chinese Acrobat Show at Chao Yang Theater

Hardest thing so far:
Metcalfe- remembering my wallet
Lilly- Staying awake for dinner (he ordered a cheeseburger)
Hartley-the small seat for the long legs on the plane
Michael- missing Mother's Day with my family