the great wall

We conquered the wall. Definitely my highlight on the second half of my Beijing stay. Fresh air and blue sky greeted us as we arrived at the wall for a 12k hike. There was even a breeze. We couldn't have ordered better weather. Not going to describe each photo but you get the picture. Mix of stairs, well kept stone sections and unkept stone sections. Some definite slow going bits in the areas that hadn't been maintained/reconstructed. Well deserved beers after and I think everyone was sore the next day. Kim had a blow out with her shoes; they almost got left behind at one point. Wish I had a photo of that.

Major bonus when we were greeted with this water view as we finished. Again, a spectacular day with excellent conditions and some great friends.

my Olympic moment

Having not competed at a Games I have no cheesy photo of me walking into the Olympic stadium during the athlete parade of an opening ceremony. I now however have photos of people I know dressed in their Olympic gear, some of them are wearing medals, a few of them posed with me. Not as good as being an Olympian but it was still a fun ride watching them race.

My friend Emily and I with the men's eight in the background as they perform their victory lap.

Adam at Canada Olympic House with Doug checking out the gold medal.

Andie and I enjoying a beverage on my last night in Beijing and her first night post-racing.

Tracy enjoying wine and a bronze medal.

My favorite lightweight man; Jon B! Saw him after the races and was worried he would just give me the head nod of recognition. Instead he came over and gave me a hug and graciously posed for a cheesy photo just a few hours after his bronze medal race.

home, sweet home

Just woke up and my first thought was how happy I am to be home. My bed feels ridiculously comfortable and I am happy to be eating fruits and vegeatables again without fear. The supermarket seemed like bliss last night, love having truly clean clothes and it was a joy to eat cereal for breakfast. The only other place I would rather be than home right now is possibly Hoi An, Vietnam. 3 weeks of travel and a long week in Beijing were a bit tiring with the soup ass compounding it all.

About to head off for my first gym workout in 3 weeks. This should be interesting. Will start posting photos of the rest of the trip this week.

done with Beijing

The end of the Olympic rowing regatta really completed my trip to Beijing. I arrived at the course with a suitcase because I had just been to the silk market to pick up my suit. Have bought so much stuff here I needed a new carry on bag. Got a wicked hard case carry on with 360 rollers. Have rolled it over 2km today alone. Got it for a bargain 200RMB or $30CAD.

Now at Canada Olympic House and feel emotionally drained from watching the A finals today. I don't think I sat down the entire time. My heart goes out to the women's eight; they rowed really well and got put out of the medals by the dutch who set a new record for the last 500m.

Will be sure to post more photos and narrative of my trip when I arrive home. Have to mention that while my suit was being altered today I searched out a place for a foot massage and paid less than $6 for 30 minutes. Good stuff.

The others are celebrating with the Americans and I am probably heading home to pack. More tomorrow.

games apathy

Major rain today. We finally slept in a bit this morning so I don't feel like I am a walking zombie. Yesterday my friends managed to score tickets to a basketball game and a volleyball game. They are living it. I only managed a quick tour of the Forbidden City with them and some hanging out watching TV at Canada Olympic House. I went for foot massage and had the most surreal experience.

I provided the name and address of an upscale place that was recommended. Instead the driver dropped me off at what looked like a rip off hotel of Caesar's Palace. I go inside and it is all marble and columns and there is a really large menu in Chinese and English. A bunch of random options as I am standing in front of the reception area (dinner, steam, ear picking, cupping etc.) I say all I want is a foot massage and point to that. They lead me to a change room and tell me to give them all my clothes and stuff and take a shower. Mass confusion as all I want is a foot massage. I change into the clothes the offer and they put a bracelet on me that opens the locker I have put all my stuff in and it has a number on it. The one person who speaks English then leads me up to the 2nd floor and the resting room. It is bunch of people dressed in the same white outfit I am wearing and they are all laying in the dark watching tv with headphones on. I ask for something a little quieter as it is right next to the dining area where again, people are sitting and eating in the white outfits. There kids lazing about as well.

They take me up another floor and I go into this movie style room with a hundred lazy boys and I screen up on a stage that is projecting an Olympic soccer game. I sit in a chair and a couple of minutes late this women comes by and gives me a kick ass 50 minute foot massage that ends with here using small hammers to pound my feet and legs.

No time to get into it all but it was totally surreal. I guess it was some spa hotel for Chinese people. They were pumped because they had a foreigner the day before and 2 last week. I guess the cab driver decided that this was where need to go.

Now hanging out in COH and waiting out some torrential rain.

resting up for Sunday

Due to a transportation issue I didn't make it out to the course to see Andie and Darcy kick some ass and win the repechage. So exciting! Can't believe I am over here and had to watch it on-line. It is over 3 hours round trip and there was no guarantee due to the late bus that I would make it there for their race.

Tomorrow we are going to the silk market to get suits tailores, Russian NOC house and any event we can secure tickets to. Getting a bit burnt out. My feet are sore from miles of walking and we go to bed late and get up early. Not sure I will be coming home rested from this portion of the vacation.

Great Wall on Friday and then it is rowing all weekend. Thanks to Dave for posting. Loved seeing the pictures of the kids in Japan.

Hoi An

This kind of stuff is everywhere! The bike gang riding in from our hotel.

Typical building in Hoi An. They are all yellow for some reason. Like they have a strata council for the whole city that tells them the color they can paint.

All the shops have these shrines set up in them with food offerings.

The group by the cool japanese covered bridge.