Ni Hao from China!!!

We made it--One giant leap closer to Macy Li! We arrived in Beijing about 5 hours ago and now we're here in our hotel room (it's 7pm here), It's a strange feeling to leave home at 7:45am on Thursday, and to arrive here at 2:00pm on Friday, and it was daylight the whole way! Well, Peyton is conked out across the BRICK (yes, the beds are bricks!---larger than "twin-size," but smaller than "full-size" and rock hard!), Phillip has run up to the grocery to grab a few things, and since I know our family is chomping at the bit to hear or see some news, I thought you might like to see a few pictures below.

First of all, the long flight from D.C. was great--just long. Thanks to my physician friend, Reggie A., I was able to sleep like a baby on the way ;)...It's so surreal, sitting here looking out the window at the skyscrapers and listening to the sounds of the hustle and bustle below. It has a very New York kind of feeling, car horns and all. Today is rather hazy, but the city of Beijing has definitely put it's best face on for these upcoming olympics! Everything is spotless, and well manicured. Driving through the city, it was cool to see so many Chinese people on their bikes and scooters, women under their umbrellas, to hear the little Asian tunes you think of when you think about China. The Chinese people we've met have been so kind and gracious. Before we came, we were told that we'd be stared at, and it is so true! As we were leaving the Beijing airport, this young man came bolting up to us with his camera and was so giddy with excitement to take our pictures! Then, he had another guy take his picture with us. He kept bowing and doing his hands together. Then he ran off showing everyone our pictures on his camera ...We felt like celebrities! hahaha...

In a little while, after Peyton has rested, we're going to venture out in the city to find some dinner and take a taxi to see some of the olympic village sites, the "bird nest," etc...It's supposedly a sight to see at night.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the trip over and sights from the bus window as we came from the airport to the hotel.