(Monday Nov. 30th)

Greetings from Beijing!

This morning Kevin, Hannah and I set out with our group to the Canadian Embassy. Our guide did the actual paperwork portion, so we had about an hour of waiting. We decided to take a little walk around the embassy. One of the men in our group asked the guard if he could take a picture of the sign. The answer was no. We then said we are Canadians. We were told we needed to show our passports to take a picture. Our passports were inside with our guide! So, Kevin explained this and he was allowed to take a picture after showing I.D. Things seem very official, severe and serious here. It was a little intimidating to say the least.

Kevin and I had told our guide that since we are in the general vicinity that we would be taking a taxi to the Yashow Market (Similar to the silk market, but it is our favorite!). So, after the paperwork we took a taxi and headed to do some bargaining! For the record the taxi took about 15 minutes and cost 10 yuan which is equivalent to under 2$ Canadian!

The building and atmosphere were the same as we had remembered. You push your way in through plastic strips and the shopping begins! There are 6 levels of shopping paradise! Each floor is made up of many different stalls selling everything you can imagine from jewellery, small electronics, clothing galore, shoes, belts, purses, gifts etc.... Each stall has a salesperson holding a calculator. And they will say things like, "Hey, Lady, you like Prada? You need purse?" And then they continue to call out to you and after you if they name a price for something and you decline they ask you what your best price is etc.... If you walk away, they generally yell many other offers out and if you keep walking they will settle on the price you chose. You could be 8 stalls away and they will be yelling. Once they agree, you turn around. I was told I am , "tough lady" today! ROFL I wish!!!! But, I suppose I am a shopper after a bargain! Trying to be fair and kind, but if it isn't a price I want to pay, I simply won't. It is interesting as you will have maybe 6 people at once calling out to you. They want you to step into their stall and then they try to hold you there by the arm! I love the whole experience! :)) We bought a little surprise for Miss Victoria today! We are planning to return and do some more shopping again this week.
As long as the price is right! hehe

After this we took our taxi back to the hotel and are now waiting to head down to have some supper. Kevin and I missed out on lunch but we did stop shopping long enough to feed Hannah!

We have some plans tonight to see Louise. Louise was our guide on our trip for Mara-Grace. She is so sweet and we keep in touch via email. So, we'll be seeing Louise! Looking forward to catching up with her!

I will write more in the morning! Actually, probably tomorrow night (tomorrow morning at home!) as tomorrow we are leaving in the morning to visit Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City.

xoxo