I didn't manage to take any photos of my first day in the big city, but don't worry - I remembered my camera, and I've even pulled it out a few times.
^_^
I got off the last flight on the 15th of January at 4 in the afternoon, and sauntered my leisurely way down the enormous hallways to customs where they looked at my passport, my entry card, and my visa, and then at me... and then back at my passport... and smiled and waved me on through. ^_^ Yay for having everything in order!
Berekti met me at the main gates after I'd picked up my luggage (one suitcase, all 51 lbs of it...) and we rolled our way to the airport express subway. After one false stop (apparently it has two stops at the airport, who knew?) we made it to the regular everyday subway system of Beijing.
Oish. O_O It's not complicated, but it's immense. And luckily for me it's all in Mandarin *and* English. YAY! I kinda sorta maybe won't be completely screwed if I ever have to get across town on my own! Sweet deal.
Friends of Berekti's had invited us over for supper, so I lugged my suitcase up and down flights of stairs from one line to another for a couple of transfers, and then all the way back up to the street, and down the street, and around the corner.... and through the gates and into the compound and past 2 sets of guards and *finally* I got to sit down.
*whew*
Then we got back up again and walked another block to the restaurant we'd decided on for supper. And the food was delicious! Fortunately I'm not picky (although I didn't really fancy having pork hocks, or chickens feet - no one else did either though, so I was safe) and I tried everything.
I think the Chinese are the only cooks who have figured out how to make me like eggplant. I've had it cooked 2 different ways now, and it's delicious. Astounding, no? YES.
After a lovely supper and some visiting, it was getting late (and it was practically dawn back home - I didn't sleep on the plane....) we hauled the suitcase back outside and back down the street and back onto the subway and onward through another transfer and then finally into Wudaokou, the area of town where Berekti lives.
It was about a 15 minute walk from the station to the apartment where we are staying, and I had my moments of doubt as to whether or not I was going to make it, but make it we did! And thankfully, the apartment building has an elevator. And even better, it works.
We glided effortlessly up to the 2nd floor and rolled on down the hall and swiped the keycard and there it was: home sweet home.
And a bed.
And at that point, that was really all I cared about.
^_^
I got off the last flight on the 15th of January at 4 in the afternoon, and sauntered my leisurely way down the enormous hallways to customs where they looked at my passport, my entry card, and my visa, and then at me... and then back at my passport... and smiled and waved me on through. ^_^ Yay for having everything in order!
Berekti met me at the main gates after I'd picked up my luggage (one suitcase, all 51 lbs of it...) and we rolled our way to the airport express subway. After one false stop (apparently it has two stops at the airport, who knew?) we made it to the regular everyday subway system of Beijing.
Oish. O_O It's not complicated, but it's immense. And luckily for me it's all in Mandarin *and* English. YAY! I kinda sorta maybe won't be completely screwed if I ever have to get across town on my own! Sweet deal.
Friends of Berekti's had invited us over for supper, so I lugged my suitcase up and down flights of stairs from one line to another for a couple of transfers, and then all the way back up to the street, and down the street, and around the corner.... and through the gates and into the compound and past 2 sets of guards and *finally* I got to sit down.
*whew*
Then we got back up again and walked another block to the restaurant we'd decided on for supper. And the food was delicious! Fortunately I'm not picky (although I didn't really fancy having pork hocks, or chickens feet - no one else did either though, so I was safe) and I tried everything.
I think the Chinese are the only cooks who have figured out how to make me like eggplant. I've had it cooked 2 different ways now, and it's delicious. Astounding, no? YES.
After a lovely supper and some visiting, it was getting late (and it was practically dawn back home - I didn't sleep on the plane....) we hauled the suitcase back outside and back down the street and back onto the subway and onward through another transfer and then finally into Wudaokou, the area of town where Berekti lives.
It was about a 15 minute walk from the station to the apartment where we are staying, and I had my moments of doubt as to whether or not I was going to make it, but make it we did! And thankfully, the apartment building has an elevator. And even better, it works.
We glided effortlessly up to the 2nd floor and rolled on down the hall and swiped the keycard and there it was: home sweet home.
And a bed.
And at that point, that was really all I cared about.
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