Forbidden City

My first day was a down day while Chris produced the  whole China leg of our trip.  I hired a guide and went to the Forbidden City and some Hutongs.  Hutongs are the traditional alleyways full of one story, multi building homes that once made the entire city.  They have mostly been destroyed and replaced by highrises.  The ones that are left are big tourist attractions and sometime still thriving neighborhoods.  They are very romantic and foreign.  I could have wandered in them forever.  My guide was a young woman named Mine (Minnie).  She was really sweet and funny but we had a lot of trouble understanding each other.  The best was a tea shop we visited and were served several types of fancy Chinese teas.  I chose a ten year old Pu-erh that is really yummy.  The preparation of the tea was lengthy and really lovely.  I am going to make a gallery of the FC and the HT’s, check it out. I taught her about selfies, she loves them.

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