We were up early this morning for a yummy breakfast, though we didn't try the octopus spaghetti dish, just to name one. We went to Tiananmen Square, famous for where an unknown protester confronted the tanks...

.... and the Forbidden City, where the Emperor lived, which used to be closed to any commoner.

The picture really doesn't do it justice. It goes on forever and is quite exquisite. Graham seemed to attract quite a lot of attention, as several Chinese people took pictures of her and even some with her.

We went to a Cloisonné Factory where we saw the steps of how they make the pieces by hand, all the copper wire that is laid and glued one tiny piece at a time and then several layers of enamel are applied to smooth it. These are the vases that were hand-crated during the Ming Dynasty.

We climbed the Great Wall...

... ALL 4 OF US MADE IT TO THE TOP!!!!!!!

We went by the Olympic Stadium on the way home to see "The Bird's Nest," then went back to our hotel, full day of touring, about 8:30-6:30. Amazingly, the kids wanted to go to the local mall, so we took a cab and bought a few things. Graham was having a great time telling the vendors "Bu Yau" (pronounced boo yow - guessing how to spell) which means no thank you. They laughed often. They are QUITE aggressive. If you don't want it, the trick is no eye contact! Then we went to Jimmy's Thai Restaurant, where the food and atmosphere was great. We met Jimmy, he's on the left, and the piano man who was singing Elvis when we walked in - you can imagine!