Mimi - Our Last Guest From The States - China Day 95

We had duck at this restaurant - note the bag. 

School library science professors
on the square

Chairman Mao's Tomb

See the picture in back where
the president watches the parade

I am home all alone for the weekend and feeling a little melancholy. Mimi is the last of 4 guests we will have here. We insisted on two bedrooms hoping that people would come to visit. We are 7500 miles from home. We realize how difficult it is for people to make time to come.

Mimi is Melissa Johnston. She is a professor at the University of West Georgia. She travels all over the world doing presentations - she is well published - has received several grants - and is also a great teacher of school librarians. We are so happy she has given us her time to come here. Our guests made us feel like we were right back at home. 

She arrived on Thursday night - I met her at the airport - and we took the subway to our apartment. Friday morning she was up and ready to go at 8 AM. First - we took her to the police station to register her residency. When you stay at a hotel - they do that for you. If you are in an apartment - you have to do it yourself or get in trouble. 

Next - we went to Tiananmen Square. It is the largest public square in the world. We visited the tomb of Chairman Mao - the Monument to the Revolution - their Congress Hall - and the site of the October 1st parade. 

We saw a real nice looking Peking Duck Restaurant on the square - so we decided to eat there. Personally - I am not a big fan of dark meat - but we ordered a full duck just the same. 

After the duck - we went to the Beijing Rail Museum. I stayed at the museum while they headed to the Qian Street shopping. I got home way before they did. 

We all went to bed early on Thursday night - because the girls had a big adventure on Friday. They would be going on a train for 4 hours - to Xian - 700 miles away. They would be visiting the Terra Cotta Warriors. I have been there - so I decided to stay home to watch the Tamaqua Raiders football game. 

Mimi and me - and the police van

I liked this scooter - the guy did not
want a picture - national museum

This is a Tesla knockoff

Peking Duck - the big show is cutting it up

The duck is good - but I prefer KFC

Beijing Free Railway Museum
beautiful old building

The first train in China. 

China railway map

Four floors of displays

The old city gate at the Square

We had our worst smog today
I appreciate our clean air - water - and soil
back home

My favorite McDonalds on campus at BNU.
Chicken Cutlet and Pineapple Pie
$1.80