The Longest Day

Day One 04-05 March 2017

I will try to post this trip in a timely manner. Due to certain restrictions on the Chinese internet I have had to make alternate arrangements to get the blog posted. We do not have access to either Facebook or the Blog address on WiFi. So, I am submitting my report through our daughter, Beth, and she will then post it on the blog site. So we will see how it works.

Jerry and Mary Ann came by our house on Saturday and we drove to Atlanta. After checking into the Hampton at the Atlanta Airport, we walked across the street to the Burger Theory Restaurant for our last dinner in the USA before departing to the Orient. Let me just say, it was one of the best hamburgers I have had lately. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, go to the Burger Theory if you want a good hamburger.

I digress. We retired early and got a wake up call at 03:30 on Sunday morning. We left my Tahoe at the hotel and took the hotel shuttle to the airport. After checking in and clearing security we had breakfast at the Boars Head in the terminal, then boarded our plane. Detroit was our next stop and after a two hour layover, we began our 14 hour flight to the other side of the world. A great flight with good weather. Our flight route took us straight up over Canada, the Arctic, parts of Russia and down over the Gobi Desert. While airborne, I watched two movies, 4 episodes of a TV series, almost read a whole book, and played about 100 games of Backgammon.

We arrived in Beijing around 1430 on Monday afternoon. After we deplaned and cleared customs, we were met by a Sinorama agent and taken to our hotel. We checked into the Beijing West International Trade Hotel. Very nice, very modern, very spacious. Everything was great, except WiFi is sporadic, at best.

Jerry Hankins had visited China several years ago on a mission trip, so we have relied heavily on him for his expertise into the Chinese culture. Without Jerry and the Sinorama agent, we would be lost.

Our flight was good, our day was long, our touring starts tomorrow. We are all tired and going to bed. Good night.

Linda, Mary Ann, and Jerry Hankins

Mary Ann and Linda

Jerry Hatfield and Jerry Hankins

Jerry Hankins, Linda, and Mary Ann