Email No. 1

Hello to all of Motti's family and friends!

Welcome to Motti's blog of his China trip created and maintained by Marge. Each email he sends us plus the pictures will be posted here. I will find out from Motti whether he can access the blog from China and read "comments" so for now, why don't y'all post comments but continue to email Motti as well. And now -- drum roll, please -- is Motti's first email from China:

Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2007 7:22 a.m.
Subject: The trip to China (part 1)

Hello hello! What's up?

I'm writing my first email from the China trip as I'm about to leave the first destination and continue to the next. I landed in Beijing three days ago and thought that the Chinese I knew would not be enough. Well, I can tell you it's not an easy thing to get along here but I think I'm doing a pretty good job.

After a few setbacks I managed to get to the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Those are very impressive and huge places but full of tourists (a million or so) and mostly locals. It was a really hot day but we managed to walk most of it. (At least I think we did as I tried to help a lost English woman who lost her way around this maze of temples. Mrs. Colbert to the east gate please... At least I tried to help.)

Now I'm back from the Great Wall which was really spectacular and again full of tourists but still an amazing site to see.

I'm now on my way to the airport, flying to Chengdu. I'll write again from there and will send pictures as well.

Have a great week and enjoy yourselves. I know I am.

Signing out from Beijing
Motti