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.
On the bus on the way to the Tennis Center
In the night markets
In Jingshan Park which is on the north end of the Forbidden City. Behind us is part of the city near the Drum and Bell Towers and possibly some hutongs. It's hard to tell with the haze.
On the rickshaw in the hutongs
At the Great Wall
One day on the busy subway
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.
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...
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.
Randy eating scorpions
Shane trying dog
Randy eating chicken heart. He said it was quite tasty.
Randy eating snake
Dave getting his first taste of scorpion.
Cathy and Patty in the market.
Dave eating a silkworm pupa.
He wasn't a fan....he's trying to hold it in his mouth long enough for Shane to take a taste as well. They both ended up spitting them into the garbage. I think this was one of the few things that didn't make it to the stomach.
Randy and Dave eating ostrich and deer. I tasted these too. Not too bad - especially the deer.
Shane and Dave trying sea urchin.
Tracy trying honeybees.
Randy, Shane, and Dave eating sheep penis. Yes, sheep penis.
Randy was not a fan.
Kim and I ate some sheep penis too. I did not end up swallowing it - too chewy and not very tasty as one might imagine.
The boys even tried sheep testicles. You can tell by Shane's face that he wasn't impressed.
This is a Terra Cotta soldier that was brought to the Olympic Center for display. Apparently, Emperor Qin had this army made to protect him after he died and was underground. The picture below is a photo of what part of the army looks like in its original location.
Bird's nest with the olympic flame above
Swimming Cube
There were a ton of reporters and cameras near the court. Cathy was interviewed by some Chinese reporters and we've since seen her on the television here. Of course, many of the televisions do not have volume for some reason, so I still haven't heard what she said.
Dave played an awesome match against Nick Taylor and won the bronze in three sets.
Here is a shot of Nick playing. You can see from the scoreboard behind him how well Dave is doing in this match.
Dave and Nick played the Israeli doubles team for the gold medal. They played very well and it was a great match to watch. It was on center court at night, so the lights were on and the crowds were excited. It was so fun to be there to cheer Nick and Dave on to their gold medal victory.
This was right after Dave and Nick had been presented with their medals and flowers.
This is when the National Anthem was being played after the flags had been raised. 
Dave and Nick alongside their number one fans - Dave's mom and Nick's dad.
