Well, we are a little late updating the blog as we have been very busy. We are doing very well and hope you all are doing well also.

Our guide Mary has been very helpful to us and has given us a wonderful experience thus far. Mary happens to be Franks ( our facilitator during our adoption journey for Sonja) sister in law. Yesterday (for us), we visited the "Forbidden City". It's amazing to see their ancient history so well preserved and Mary also is very knowlegdeable about all of the history of China and Beijing.

We also were given the privlege of visiting a local family in the Hutong district, a district that was built in the Ming dynasty. We were welcomed with Jasmine tea, sunflower seeds and nuts. The family has lived in that house since the Ming dynasty.

The photo above is one of our pedicab driver during our Hutong district tour. You may be able to see some of the "homes" and the narrowness of the streets.