We're Here

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

We were so glad to be off the plane but sadly our guide was nowhere to be found. It was quite an ordeal for Michael to obtain a calling card to try and reach him since our cell phones wouldn’t work in China. No one in the airport at least where we were spoke English.

When our guide (Jonathan) finally arrived he was very nice. Jonathan told us his Chinese name but explained he chose the name Jonathan to make it easier on the tourists. Jonathan drove us to our hotel (Howard Johnsons Royale Plaza) which was very nice on the outside and in the lobby. Once we got upstairs to the floor our room was on it was a different story. There was this unpleasant smell throughout the hallway. We had smelt something similar at the airport. Inside our room the carpet was soiled and even with the a/c on full blast it was so warm. Now for me to say I was warm it had to hot.

We decided to eat some dinner in the hotel restaurant. They had a full buffet and both of us had a hard time finding anything edible. Michael said we should tell people if they want to lose weight to come to China and go on the Beijing diet! After dinner we went back to our room. Michael could not adjust to it all and he became ill. First he had a headache and then he started vomiting. Hopefully after a good night’s rest we will both feel better in the morning.