It certainly has been awesome tripping around Beijing/China with Wendy. Having another person to share the experience with has also enabled me to see things differently and discover new information about the city and my neigbourhood.
Wendy has begun to make our apartment a home and has purchased a few items and added her artistic flare to the place. Artwork and crafts now decorate our walls and we have a coffee maker and new pans to cook with. I have discovered that my favourite chinese restaurant has another location as I pass it each day with my bike ride to work. Also in this mall/restaurant complex is a DQ, KFC, clothing shops and more. Wendy found a nice manicure place that she tried out today. We got together for lunch as a nice break for me from the routine of school.
Wendy has organized a trip for herself this coming Wednesday where she visits the Lama Temple, Jingshan Park( a park north of the Forbidden City), the Beijing Zoo and a hutong via rickshaw. All events and sites I have yet to experience. Very impressive work Wendy!!
I worked last Saturday but with Sunday off we visited Beihai park as it was too crowded and frustrating on our last week’s visit. Upon our visit I discovered I have not been to Beihai Park but was mistakenly visiting Houhai Lake. Thanks for clearing this up Wendy. We had a great day touring the park, then venturing to Houhai Lake where we visited shops and passed the popular bar district there. We visited one of the oldest streets in Beijing, Yandai Xie Street that dates backs to the opium days in China. It is also called Tobacco Pipe Street. We toured the hutongs surrounding Houhai and made our way back home to enjoy a cigar and beer at the beautiful gardens that surround our apartment complex. I really like my new cigar smoking wife!! Some pictures that capture our day.
Beihai Lake
Beihai 
Beihai Lake 
My climb to the White Pagoda on Qionghua Island 
Oldest original building in the Hohai shopping district.