Crazy Day of Adventure

First if you do not see any pictures check back they will be added later. We decided today after breakfast that we would all go to the silk market. Mode of transportation was up in the air. Some wanted to take cabs, some walk, and some take the bus. The bus won out so off we went. It started out fairly easy. We were able to find the bus stop and bus with no problems. You boarded the bus from the back and we soon learned from watching everyone that there was one way off - the front. We along with one other family was near the front exit while the rest of our group was in the back. The group in the back had the directions so we were watching them to know when to get off. At one point we were told one more exit and that is when it got interesting. We moved to the exit and Taylor was the first out the door, suddenly before anyone else could exit, the bus doors closed. Our 14 yr old. daughter turned around on some street in Beijing to see us on a bus with the doors closed! It was at that point I started to panic. I let out a scream and the word that came out of my mouth was "WAIT"!!!!!!!  I think I was banging on the doors as well, it is all a blur. All I know is the bus doors opened and Bob and I were able to get off as well as one other family. We proceeded to walk with a map that our hotel had given us but we ended up making a wrong turn at some point. Our family along with one of the other families children made it to the silk market via a cab. The rest of the other family was going to catch a cab but they ended up walking the rest of the way as they had five other family members and the cab only holds four. It was maybe 15 minutes later when they arrived. We did not see our other travel mates anywhere at the silk market. It was rather crazy in the market. Everyone wanted you to buy something from them. If you paused or looked at something they were all over you. Needless to say we did not buy anything. Oh and we did take a quick and cheap cab ride back to the hotel just in case any of you are wondering. ;) We ventured out on foot tonight for dinner with our friends we spent the day with. They are great. Todd and Kim brought their four kids with them and their children are adorable. We walked to a local restaurant and ordered some interesting food. All tasted very good but some was very spicy even though they said they would only make it a little spicy. We ordered beef and peppers thinking it would be green bell peppers but it was green chili peppers. Very spicy but good. We fed nine of us for $35 US dollars and had a ton of food. Very friendly service as well. Tomorrow we will be with our guides so we will have a busy schedule. We see the Summer Palace, Jade Factory and Great Wall. It will be a fun day of our favorite places! Off to bed but only 3 more days until we meet Evan!  Hopefully we can sleep.  There seems to be a party next door and they are very loud singing songs etc.  Bob, Cheri & Taylor

Carla adding here: This LINK is to another family who recently traveled over Chinese New Year and took a video of the fireworks. This is the kind of fireworks they are hearing all night long! I can imagine how it is with the kind of debris shown here in the photo above.