Our last few days in Beijing

Randy and I just got home to Portland after a 24 hour plus journey home. We had an amazing trip and it was such a fantastic experience to be able to support Dave during the Paralympics. It was also really fun to be with a group of people who were all there for the same reason. This will likely be my last entry about the trip to China. I just wanted to post some photos of a few of the things we saw over the past few days.

We were able to visit Dave in the Paralympic Village. This is where he has been living for the time he has been in Beijing.


Dave and Tracy playing air hockey. He says this is where the athletes hang out to relax. There was also foosball, shuffleboard, and pool.

Randy and Dave shooting hoops in the dorms. I wonder if this is where Kobe and Lebron practiced before the Olympic matches.

Brent and Dave in front of the dorms. Brent also competed in the quads singles matches for the US and was Dave's roommate.

On our last day in Beijing, Randy and I walked up to the top of the park that is near the north end of the Forbidden City. We were able to see a lot of Beijing from up high. The hill we climbed was made from the dirt they dug out of the Forbidden City for the moat. It would have been really cool if it had been clear, but it was still a really good view.


This would have been an amazing view of the city if it had been clear. Maybe they should seed those clouds again...

A little piece of home with a slightly different entrance...

Later in the day, we went on a rickshaw ride through the hutongs. These are old alleyways (the oldest is 900 years old) that are the residential areas in the middle of Beijing. Riding in the rickshaw was a great way to cover a lot of ground and see this part of the city.

Our rickshaw guide said this is where Chairman Mao lived. I'm not sure I buy it...


A sample of what the residential streets look like. It's a little blurry because the rickshaw was moving.

Our last day together in Beijing. We are back at one of my favorite spots in Beijing, the Drum and Bell, which is a rooftop bar with good Chinese beer on tap.