It Only Took 23 Years!

I visited Beijing, China in 2002 with a group of teachers.  I bought this map which shows the city as it was 500 years ago with the Forbidden City, the palace of the emperor, in the center. That was such a stunning place to visit.  It also shows the hundreds of Hutongs where the ordinary people lived.  Now, there is just a handful.  We had to take a rickshaw down these narrow streets.  I wasn't too comfortable having a person pull me about, but I was told these are considered taxis and it was quite acceptable.  This was the man that pulled mine.  He graciously allowed me to photograph him and after I took his picture with my little Polaroid camera to give him.  He was delighted.  I also gave him a postcard. (extra) We were asked to bring small tokens to give to people that showed something about where we lived. I had the teacher who taught Mandarin in my school write up a description of a Moose and I highlighted Maine on the map.  The expression on his face when he read it was priceless.  So many wonderful memories from that trip.