Lucky

Beijing Day 1
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The next morning I still had no reply from my friend and had to make a decision.  I booked 2 more nights and signed up for a tour that afternoon.  No way I'm just sitting in the room (no matter how much it costs).  Until then I decide to just wander around outside.  I head out of the hotel and make a right turn (west) and start walking.  Hit an intersection. Right Turn (Upon first seeing a large busy Chinese intersection you may decide against crossing as well).  I walk for about half an hour before I reach a dead end.  Vehicles can continue, but pedestrians are nowhere to be found.  Turn around and head back.  I've still got some time before my tour so I decide to go east and that's where I bumped into Aron.  (I'd grown accustomed to strangers approaching me for whatever reason long ago)  Aron is a local artist with a gallery not 100m away from the hotel.  He shows me his work which I say I like, but can't buy because of the expensive hotel.  He offers to find me a cheaper hotel.  And a cheaper tour to the Great Wall and Ming Tombs with lots of amenities.  After thinking it over for a bit, I canceled the additional nights at the Jinguo and my tour for later in the day.  I left my stuff at Aron's gallery and we headed off.  First to one down the street that was still pretty fancy, and half the price.  I say I'm open to seeing cheaper.  I get my stuff and we hop in a cab and head to old beijing where I'm introduced to the Qian Xin.  There is neither written nor spoken english to be found.  Aron arranges everything with the front desk (Really, No One spoke english and I don't speak chinese).  The price?  1/10 of what I paid at the Jianguo.  I got what I paid for.

Beijing Day 1
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Aron said he was going out f the city and into the mountains for a weekend trip and said to let him know if I'd like to go.  It wasn't a touristy place so I said absolutely.  In retrospect, what did I think they were going to do in the mountains?

After checking, Aron walked me around the area 2-3 times to make sure I wouldn't get lost.  I am a Master of getting lost.  Lo and Behold I was in the middle of 2 days worth of stuff to see. As well as 2 minutes away from the China Quanjude (Group), home of the original Peking Duck (over 140 yrs old).

Beijing Day 1
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The sun had set, so I thought I take a quick look around Tiananmen square and get some night photos.  It's still Really humid and hot.

Tomorrow morning at 7am someone will be at the hotel to pick me up for my all day tour.