07 May 2011

Sites, sounds, and Francis Dancing

It started innocent enough:



It was our day to take in the sites, sounds, and smells of historic and beautiful Beijing. After a massive buffet breakfast and 20-minute wait for an elevator, we hopped in our mini bus and glided smoothly into the biggest traffic jam most of us had ever seen. Te existence of this traffic jam was confusing, as the road was completely clear 100 meters up the road. Still, that didn't stop the horns (or that woman in that pink car with pink seat covers and a pink hat from screaming at the top of her lungs out the window at EVERYONE)!

We made it to the Temple of Heaven before the crowds and the weather was just divine. Sunshine, blue skies, and the perfect cool breeze. From there it was onward to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.





It was its usual spectacular self and we kept our cool but sucking away on delicious dragon fruit ice pops. It was here that we met the child who would win the title for "cutest kid in China." He had no problem striking a pose for us either:



Following our visit we stopped for lunch at the most frenetic restaurant I have ever seen before shifting our late afternoon plan and taking in a quintessential China experience - an afternoon in the park. Chinese people make the best use of public space of any people in the world. There is karaoke, there is dancing, there are adorable old women emblazoned with enormous smiles, there are tulips, and there is Francis:

















Within minutes of the music starting, Francis - our lord of the dance - was moving and grooving like nobody's business. Soon, a crowd of spectators and a line of hopeful dance partners had formed. All the while Trish stood nearby repeating to us, "well there he goes!". It was the perfect end to a perfect day in Beijing!

--

Kyle Taylor




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Read more at kyletaylor.com

Location:Gaojiazhai Hutong,Beijing,China

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