The next day it was raining, but there was sights to see and more experiences to have. Today would be a vist to Mao's memorial and then the Forbidden City. I'd love to have had a picture of the former, but no camera's were allowed (had to check them in at a storage place across the street set up for just that purpose). By 9:30 AM, the line to get in was hundreds long - he obviously is a big cheesemo here! Four things particulraly stuck with me about the experience. First, that no pictures were allowed. Second, that on the way in there was a kiosk where you could buy flowers - of the plastic version - to place at the foot of his statue - flowers that were then picked up and hauled back outside to the kiosk to sell again (or so I presume, I saw an oversized wheelbarrow full of flower being hauled out the side door while I was inside the memorial) - maybe the sign says at the kiosk says "flowers for rent". Third, that I got to see Chairman Mao resting at peace ion his glass cocoon (sp) - he looked very good for all his years lying there - now that was weird!!!! Finally, that as soon as you stepped outside the memorial on the backside, there were people at literally dozens of makeshirt booths waiting to sell you trinkets of Mao. At first, I decided to be frugal, but the notion of getting a Mao momento got the best of me. I settled on a watch, which I needed - a small thing in the shape of a cell phone, where when you flip open the phone cover there is a watch with Mao's face in the center of the watch face. It makes me laugh even when I write it almost a month later. It's too good!!!!! I guess the Chinese government have found their balance between communism and capitalism. As I left the area, I found myself singing the Lowell George tune "Apolitical Blues" (all you Little Feat fans will understand).

On to the Forbidden City. Between the rain, the crowds (which at this point were starting to wear on me)and my fatigue, it was all sort of colorful and impressive blur of history and color and pagentry (sp). I was most impressd with the gardens at the northern end of the encampment. I hope to make it back on a sunny day before I head south (I'm here for five days, and get there early to beat the crowds - so hoepfully I'll have soime good pictures to share in a few days. It really was impressive.

North of the Forbidden City, I took in the views from atop Jingshan Park, then onto Beihai Park. Both beautiful, and very peaceful compared to the crowds of the Forbidden City. For reasons not worth getting into, my camera battery died thereabouts, so I have no pictures from there. But I may again go back, and so stay tuned. On the way home, I stopped in a teahouse for a half hour of traditional Chinese music, then later to watch and listen to an older fella play his two string Instrument that was like a stand-up fiddle. Another great scene. Finally on the way home, I got stuck at the north side of Tiananmen Gate by guards who kept a crowd of 100 or so from going further so the flag soilders could proceed through and do their ceremony at the national flag pole. I've seen the clouds from both sides now, and man do those guys march in sync!!!