The Forbidden City

The end of our time in China and we still had to visit the Forbidden City, the old palace in Beijing. We had already attempted this once, but it was so busy that we decided to wake up extra early the next day to get in line for tickets before it even opened.



And so we did. And I learned that China doesn't do lines. A line formed before the ticket windows opened, but once those ticket windows opened it was a mob scene.



You will notice that there are few, if any, strangers in our pictures. That's because I HATE having strange people in my photos. I want to remember the beauty of the place, not the mobs of people I had to fight through to see it. So, don't be deceived. It was busy. Very busy.

Neil chills out with his good friend Mao.



Another Lost in China moment.



And another Unbearable Heat in China moment.



A turtle-lion thing. Perhaps the original ninja turtle?



More beautiful architecture - and everything was highly detailed.



















China apparently has put into place a star rating system for public toilets. I expected great things from the one in the Forbidden City.



And I wasn't disappointed.



Goodbye China!