EmMa, Mao and Me

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Right before landing in Beijing I thought, "What if the guide I booked over the internet was a fraud?" I felt like I was on an internet date! But fortunately our guide was wating at the Beijing Airport with a sign that said Ms. Marilyn and Ms. Jacqueline. She introduced herself as Em Ma --- Ma being the last name. She is lovely, but the first day it made our head hurt to listen all day. Her English is excellent, but the accept is work.

Em Ma explained that the Chinese have recently made this time a national holiday. They are commerating a 200 BC. official who tried to tell the emperor to get ready for war,which he didn't do. Of course war came, the emperor lost and the official committed suicide. This offical was much loved and so the people created a holiday to feed the gold fish in the water in his honor and all daughters were able to visit their mothers during this holiday.

Never come to Beijing on a national holiday. First, everyone has vacation, and where do they go? to Tiatamen Square to visit Mao's tomb (which is on display 6 days a week, the 7th day, Em Ma explained, he gets "new medicine") and the Great Wall. But, that is China.

Em Ma grew up in a Hutong, the old part of the city fast disappearing to build high rise apartments, so she made sure we went to visit. The guide took us to a middle income family home which at the time of Mao had 58 people living in the courtyard. Mao, of course, nationalized everything. It has reverted to the family home and now 9 people and four dogs live there.

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Photos

Em Ma
Isn't she cute

Maos tomb
Aparently, still the hero

Jacq at a rich person hutong
The gour "knobs" on the top of the door indicate the person is rich

Jac at Middle Income Hutong
Nice inside

But Jac likes BeBe the dog
We had a dog named bebe

Jacq does the gentleman's wall
Last year we hiked the Ladies Wall, but this year it was so crowded, we went up the Gentleman Wall, much more difficult