We have arrived!

Well, we've arrived safe and sound in Beijing thanks to the grace of God and the prayers of many of you.  It was a very long day.  Our travel was uneventful, but a special surprise was that as we landed in Newark, we got to see the Empire State Buiding, New York Skyline, and Statue of Liberty.  I don't think I realized how close New York City was to Newark.  When we arrived in Newark, we were able to meet up with several other Great Wall China Adoption (GWCA) families and start to build some relationships with some really nice people.  I think the thing that really surprised me the most was how bad the air quality is here in Beijing.  There's a haze and fog over the area here in Beijing because of it.  Our guide was at the airport to greet us, green flag in hand, and we were quickly transported to the hotel.  It's relatively nice, but there is some Chinese uniqueness to it that's for sure.  One thing we thought was weird was that you had to use your card key to turn on the lights in the room.

After we got our luggage back in the hotel room, one of our guides led us through a local small grocery store to get supplies for those who needed them.  That was an interesting experience.  It was jam-packed with people, plus what they had for sale was a bit unconventional.  The funny part was the name:  "Wu-Mart."  Similar font as our American Walmart.  The second floor of Wu-Mart housed a McDonalds, which is where we ate supper (because we were too tired to be adventurous).  We ordered by pictures, and the clerk instinctively just handed us the picture menu when we walked to the counter.

Tomorrow is the Great Wall and Tienanmen Square.

 Our guide Michael greeted us at the airport.

 The little guy helps take luggage to the van taking us to the hotel.

In the lobby of our hotel.  The translation of the words behind us say:  "We gladly welcome with honor the Bridges Family."  Not really, but it could for all that we know......

 This caution sign was on the stairway going into McDonald's.  It made me laugh.  

The "Wu-Mart" down the street from the motel.  Good prices, but not "rollback" good.  :)