Park Life

We are getting a little more adventurous. In the last couple of days, we have been on a bendy bus and used the subway. Travelling on public transport here costs pennies rather than pounds. The bus and train were fairly easy to cope with as the flat fare is written on the side and a person announces in English which stop you are approaching. Having said that we have done a lot of walking. It is a great way to really see the city, especially exploring the smaller side roads and Hutongs. Our little Duracell bunny, Will, still loves to use up even more energy and demands to be timed while running ahead in the parks and back to us!
We have enjoyed exploring The Forbidden City, Tia an men Square, The Lama Temple and The Temple of Heaven. All these historic sites are either next to or situated in a park. The parks are not grassy like ours, but gardens with wide paths, surrounded by trees, flower beds and very often rocky outcrops to climb and explore. As well as housing the beautiful and ornate temples the parks are a place where all sorts of people and families come to socialise. There are people doing Tai Chi to music, singing in a choir, playing instruments, playing Chinese draughts, flying kites and dancing with scarves. Ellie May was able to have a go at scarf dancing, she did far better than her brother, who ended up so wrapped up he looked like the Andrex puppy!!!