Day 1

We slept for a few hours this morning then had breakfast at the hotel buffet.  We ran into another couple who I knew was getting in a day early like us!  It was nice to be able to communicate easily with someone else... the barrier has been both challenging and humorous!  Brad, Sierra, and I decided to walk around the city.  No particular destination, just checking things out.  Around dinner we decided to head back out to attempt the subway & meet a fellow baldie (she shaved her head for St. Baldrick's the year before I did and is now teaching in China).  The plan was to meet her at the silk market where she could barter some good deals then take us to a "good" place to eat.  Unfortunately, I have gotten sick... already.  We didn't make it, sadly.  Fingers crossed that there is a quick recovery tonight.  I'll try to attach a couple of pics.  I can't see the blog (blogspot is blocked) so excuse any typos or general weirdness.   Pics are of the real time video flight path on the plane as we were going over the north pole, the view from our room (note the smog), and a funny advertisement.