by Penelope | May 18, 2018 | China
Visiting China–Yes, You Need a Visa! The lure of China wasn’t a burning quest for Raphael and me, but we knew we couldn’t ignore this monstrosity of a country, and we needed to go while we were still ambulatory. So, we signed up for a Viking Tour. Half of the...
by Penelope | May 17, 2018 | China
The science fiction photos of pollution fog and mask wearing citizens convinced us to avoid this city. However, the tour cities are preset. Beijing was our first stop. Beijing defied our expectations. On our early evening arrival, we were picked up (perfect perk) and...
by Penelope | May 16, 2018 | China
The Great Wall of China is deservedly one of the most visited spots in China and the world. Its sinewy, curvaceous, imposing beauty beckons one to climb. From Beijing, we went to the Badaling section which is about an hour and a half away. More like a theme park on...
by Penelope | May 15, 2018 | China
My first glimpse of the city of Xian was everything I had imagined Beijing to be—unbreathable air, traffic pileups, and massive crowds that make New York look like Omaha, Nebraska. To be fair, we arrived on May 1 the International Workers Day, a holiday that...
by Penelope | May 14, 2018 | China
After a short flight from Xian, we entered the Yangtze River at the Chongqing (pronounced Chong Ching) port, another massive city with over 17 million people and soaring skyscrapers. After a brief tour of their Farmers Market and a stroll on the waterfront, we were...
by Penelope | May 13, 2018 | China
Three Gorges It’s controversial. Our riverboat trip through the remote Three Gorges on the Yantsee River has some baggage. Building a dam on the Yangtze meant having the water level climb over 30 feet causing major disruptions to the populace and environment....
