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Goodbye, America!
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Chicago from the sky
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Oh no, the plane is L8!
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Kristen's aunt and cousin welcomed us at the Beijing airport with this student-made sign.
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Fairy wings
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Kristen's family treated us to a fantastic feast at a Beijing Roast Duck restaurant.
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The food
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Gan bei!
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We brought gifts (bourbon, Bath and Body Works, family photos) for our family and friends in China
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Decoration or dessert?
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It was great to reunite with Kristen's extended family while we were in Beijing ... her grandfather's younger brother, his three daughters, one of the
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When we returned to Beijing at the end of the month, we stayed at the Lotus Hostel
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Our room was simple but effective
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Old doors
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Mao left this gate when he cleared the ancient corridor on the present site of T-Square
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Outside of Mao's mausoleum
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Propaganda for the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party was everywhere
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Chillin' with our homie, Mao
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An undercover soldier stands guard at Mao's portrait, ready to grab his bullhorn and fire extinguisher at the first sign of trouble.
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The Gate of Heavenly Peace
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Kristen's extended family took us to KTV during our return trip to Beijing
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Kristen's aunts were hilarious, singing and dancing with abandon
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KTV duet
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Trying in vain to sing an English song
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Singing a Chinese song she learned on Loveboat
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Kristen's cousin sings a solo
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Kristen's three Beijing aunts
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There was also a pretty good spread at KTV
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Snakes!
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The underground parking lots in Beijing were immaculate, shiny and painted clearly
