We went to the Lama temple and the Olympic stadium today, but first we walked through the hutongs (neighborhoods built around narrow streets) to make sure we could find our cooking class we have tomorrow. We found it pretty easily, no crazy running across streets either, even though we had to pass a few busy streets. We then walked to the Lama temple which was just a few blocks away.
LuRue and Montana spent about an hour walking around. We both liked watching the people do their prayers. There was a lot of incense burning, too. We are both glad we don't like going with guides, so that we can take our time with what we want and zoom by what we’re not interested in. After a while, the temples started looking the same, so we decided to head off to the Olympics park.
At first, we had thought that all we'd be able to do was walk around the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, but it turns out we could get tickets to go inside! We got a set of tickets to let us go to the Water Cube, the Bird’s Nest and the roof of the Bird’s Nest.
By the time we got there, it was already one o'clock so we got some snacks at a store, sat down in the bleachers in the Bird’s Nest stadium and ate our very healthy snack. We walked around the first floor and in the wax museum, which wasn't much. We then took the Love Elevator up to level 5 and walked up to the very top bleachers. That wasn't the highest we got though. After walking around and asking people for a while, we finally found the place to get to the roof of the Bird’s Nest...the Air Corridor. It was a great view of Beijing from there. A tightrope walker lived on top for two months so he could set a new world record. Now that's dedication!
We then headed to the Water Cube to walk around inside. We saw one pool with water slides in it and there was another one where people were practicing diving. They did flips, handstands, synchronizing, and other complicated stuff. They were great at it, too. We found out that they were practicing for the FINA/NVC Diving World Series, which will start on the 13th. That was a nice surprise. We walked around a little more, but there wasn't really anything else. The pool where the Olympic water events were held was under renovation.
We headed back at around 5:30 and stopped at the Courtyard 7 restaurant for a bowl of soup each before heading back to our room.
Lama Temple
LuRue and Montana spent about an hour walking around. We both liked watching the people do their prayers. There was a lot of incense burning, too. We are both glad we don't like going with guides, so that we can take our time with what we want and zoom by what we’re not interested in. After a while, the temples started looking the same, so we decided to head off to the Olympics park.
At first, we had thought that all we'd be able to do was walk around the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, but it turns out we could get tickets to go inside! We got a set of tickets to let us go to the Water Cube, the Bird’s Nest and the roof of the Bird’s Nest.
The Bird's Nest
By the time we got there, it was already one o'clock so we got some snacks at a store, sat down in the bleachers in the Bird’s Nest stadium and ate our very healthy snack. We walked around the first floor and in the wax museum, which wasn't much. We then took the Love Elevator up to level 5 and walked up to the very top bleachers. That wasn't the highest we got though. After walking around and asking people for a while, we finally found the place to get to the roof of the Bird’s Nest...the Air Corridor. It was a great view of Beijing from there. A tightrope walker lived on top for two months so he could set a new world record. Now that's dedication!
View from the Air Corridor
We then headed to the Water Cube to walk around inside. We saw one pool with water slides in it and there was another one where people were practicing diving. They did flips, handstands, synchronizing, and other complicated stuff. They were great at it, too. We found out that they were practicing for the FINA/NVC Diving World Series, which will start on the 13th. That was a nice surprise. We walked around a little more, but there wasn't really anything else. The pool where the Olympic water events were held was under renovation.
Diving at the Water Cube
Outside the Water Cube
We headed back at around 5:30 and stopped at the Courtyard 7 restaurant for a bowl of soup each before heading back to our room.
would have loved to have watched the the divers doing "flips, handstands, synchronizing, and other complicated stuff”—another unexpected perk of 'do-it-yourself' touring.
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