Semester at Sea Part V: Beijing, China

Greetings!Well, I'm writing this to you all from Tianneman Square in Beijing - I can't believe I am here. Thesquare is the largest city square in the world - it took us over an hour to walk across it! They have litit all up at night, and people are flying kites, speed skating, drinking coffee and admiring the variouspavilions they have set up celebrating Beijing's nomination for the 2008 Olympics. There are fountains,lasers and ornate gardens. Quite magnificent.Flew into Beijing from Hong Kong yesterday and visited the summer palace. I was pretty oblivious fromexhaustion at the end of the day, and collapsed in my room after having a 24 course Peking duck banquetthrown in Semester at Sea's honor at this palatial restaurant/thingy....Can't describe it - I was alittleinebriated on the wine and beer. The food was spectacular.Today was also exhausting - we visited the Great Wall of China. It was a good hour's hike to the wall,battling non-stop peddlers trying to sell "I climbed the wall" t-shirts. The weather was wonderful - nottoo hot in the mid 60's, but the mountains spread out for miles and were enveloped in a sea of mist. Weclimbed on the wall itself for another mile or so and then came down on, wait for it, a toboggan!! yes, canyou believe it? They have a theme park ride at the great wall that you can descend for about $5!!Spent the evening shopping - got a red silk dress that I've always wanted, ate dinner, took severalfrightening trips in cabs where I feared for my life, and then came to Tiannamen square with Andy, the philosophy professor!Will write more soon