Friday March 16 - Kites and the Opera!

And we're back...

So, this morning was a relaxed start, with - finally - both my girls sleeping in until the wake-up call at 7:30. Then onto the bus to visit the kite shop/maker. Like the paper-cut maker the other day, the kite-making tradition has been in the family for generations.


In the tiny shop, jam-packed with many kites of all sizes and colours, the kids watched the kite-makers explain how they frame a kite and then attach the fabric (sometimes silk).




But the exciting part for the children was selecting kites to buy. Most of them selected ones for 45 yuan (around 7$) and then we were off to a park to fly them. It was an exhilirating hour and a half of parents and children launching birds and butterflies, fish and dragons into the air to the sounds of "let out the line!", "back up, back up!", "watch out for the trees!". It was all so much fun (for adults as much as the kids) and both Bryanna and Cassidy were thrilled to see theirs lift into the sky.





We also spent a few minutes at the amazing exercise equipment in the same park (why don't they have these things in Canada? - amazing!) before heading off to our final group lunch in Beijing.







On the way, we took a picture of these men fixing a light on the side of a building - is this ingenious or what?






A few hours of packing, relaxing and grabbing a bite to eat and then we were off to the opera. Cassidy and papa stayed behind as it would have been too late for her, but everyone else went. The theatre was in a lovely hotel and was a combination of dinner theatre and regular rows of auditorium seating. We were delighted to find that popcorn, drinks and ice cream are readily available and it is completely appropriate to snack during the performance. I have to admit that this kind of operatic singing is not quite my style (!), but the dance and acrobatic parts of the performance, as well as the elaborate costumes, were something to see.





Some tired children did not quite make it all the way through, though...



Tomorrow is our last day in Beijing, and as I mentioned in the last short post, we have already been packing in preparation for sending most of our luggage on ahead. Cassidy was sad about leaving here because in her words, "this hotel is awesome!"

As we will be checking out at 2:00 pm, then going on our last tour (to the Temple of Heaven) followed by dinner and departure from Beijing by train, we will not be able to post tomorrow. We arrive in Xi'an on Sunday and will post from there that night, internet permitting.

Thanks to all the kids at home who have sent messages to Bryanna and Cassidy - we've read them all and Bryanna wants to send another post once we have the time.

Till Sunday!