We left North Bend yesterday (!) for our 20-day tour of China. Got a shuttle bus direct to the airport from just near our house. Runs only every three hours, so we got to the airport very early for our flight. We were able to grab a generally passable breakfast at a cafe in the terminal, and spent some time walking laps around all the gates and wondering about the destinations of all the other passengers.
Flew Hainan Airlines, a Chinese airline that compared favorably with our previous experiences flying Korean Air. Would recommend either of them over the American-based companies. Longest flight either of us have ever taken: 11 hours and 45 minutes, direct from Seattle to Beijing. I watched four whole movies during the flight, and played one of the video games obsessively for at least 90 minutes or so.
Getting into Beijing airport, the customs process went pretty smoothly. Met up with the leader of our group: Winston. Aaron wants to know if he has Anglicized his name for us. Our group headed over to the hotel was pretty large, but after
tonight we will split up into smaller groups. I believe our group will be 15 people. Staying for the next three nights at the Loong Palace Hotel, a five-star sprawling place with several wings. Much nicer place than we usually stay when traveling. There are eleven restaurants and cafes within the hotel, as well as a gym and pool. There is a spa menu that includes such offerings as Aroma Rose Essential Oil package and Renal nursing essential oil massage. They also offer foot massage, which I will take advantage of to start out my Chinese trip in proper fashion.
Tomorrow we are going to the Great Wall, switching the itinerary for the first two days due to certain Monday museum/tourist closures. Supposed to be blue skies!! That in itself will be a treat because we've had near constant nasty weather at home for what seems like forever. Tomorrow starts our adventures!!
