Day 15

So, not a lot this morning.  Got pscked and had time to run to McDonalds for coffee (those of you who know how I feel about Starbucks coffee will understand why), then grabbed a taxi and off to the airport.  We left Pete (he had to get back to Shanghai) and boarded a plane for Beijing.  We arrived at our hotel - The Novatil - checked in and headed for Tinamin Square and the Forbidden City.  It is an interesting place, the forbidden city.  There are three "Recieving Rooms", one behind the other, where the Emperor would recieve you.  His priavte chambers were at the very back of them and depending on your status he would see you in the appropriate room,  if your status was low you would be seen in the room farthest away from his chambers, if your status was high he would see you in the room closest to where he lived. There were also quarters for the Empress and individual Concubines (mistresses) of which he would have around a hundred at a time. After we left there we went back to the hotel.  Di had to do a phone meeting so Diane and I went to dinner.  Diane tried my Duck and actually LIKED it!  She's becoming such a big girl!