We stayed in a fantastic four-star hotel in Beijing. NOT! It was a teeny little hole and it was terrific. After climbing the Great Wall, we were exhausted and ready for a nice warm bed.
We got to our hotel and had to climb two stories worth of stairs. We entered the rooms which smelled like sewer and cigarettes. The windows were double-paned, but they were still open thus the noise of the street was incredibly loud. At least the bed was going to be nice and comfy, right? Nope! The BED was a box spring with a sheet on top of it!We sat down on the "bed" and it didn't move.
Didn't bounce. Oh well, at least the room was going to be warm and we could get a nice night's sleep right? Heck no! The room was chilly, but slowly heated up. There wasn't any warm water, unless you were in the shower. And even then, you only had a few minute's worth of hot water.
The room key had to be in a special slot, otherwise you didn't have electricity or heat! If you left your room, you had to take your key with you, and your room couldn't warm up....unless you had your Idaho Driver's License. After pulling an Indiana Jones move, I switched the cards and our room heated up. I'm so clever!
Needless to say, we fell asleep (thank you to earplugs!) and slept for a good 8 hours on this hard mattress. It was certainly a wonderful adventure. The floor was actually softer than our bed!
In the lobby of our fabulous hotel, this was the sign. HUH? Can you translate that any better?
The next morning we were hungry so we wandered to alley where we found a little market. We had fresh scone-like things and delicious Sunkist oranges.
The fruit were fresh, especially the ones that had cigarette ashes on them. Mmmmm!
Heeeeeere's breakfast! One kuai each. About 43 cents in REAL money.
What's with the pot outside our hotel? No clue.
This little cutie watched us the entire time we were out front. Cute little cheeks!
I have more pictures but can't find them! I need to find the other memory card and then I can post pictures showing the view and the room...you gotta see it. 
8 comments:
what the heck does that sign mean? pretty funny!
That sign from the hotel managment is so funny. It's like they took a word by word translation from a mandrin to english book.
At least you didn't stay in one of those coffin sized bed hotels that they have over there.
I'm sure the hotel experience was worth it after getting to see The Great Wall of China, huh? I do want to see pics of the bed, though. :)
Respectful Friend,
That sign is too funny! I don't even want to know what a public security organ is. So glad you are back and that you had a fabulous time--despite the nasty bed.
Too funny. Gotta love that 'chinglish'!! Glad you got to see the Great Wall and have an adventure in Beijing. Do you need me to send you some photos? I think Ryan gave me all the ones you guys took here...
Sure miss you! Now what shall we look forward to?!
Thanks for posting these pics! I've wanted to post them, but didn't have them. Thanks for the memory. (So does your mom...)
OK, the picture of the fruit stand brings back some memories. I wish I could reach through my computer screen and grab the mangosteen... or as I like to refer to it "the forbidden fruit" or the "Fruit of the tree of life" seriously... what I wouldn't give to have one right now! I hope you had fun trying out some new things.
I love those signs in China. Fun pictures.
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