Quick Trip to Beijing...

The trouble with pre-planning a weekend getaway?  Mother Nature often doesn't cooperate.

Recently, we had district conference to attend on Saturday afternoon, 

so we thought we'd throw in some sight-seeing in the morning. 

 Funny how Beijing, in traffic, in the rain, looks so much like Tianjin, in traffic, in the rain.  

 We brought one umbrella with us, just in case, 

but soon we had purchased 3 more, plus

two ponchos, from street vendors, as we entered the

Forbidden City.

I was impressed with how immense the place is, with courtyard after courtyard.

 Pretty amazing granite carvings.

Bright, intricate paint.

 And a light drizzle.

Papa Bailey and his ducklings...

 Boy was I surprised when we walked through one doorway

and into a forested garden. 

So beautiful.  So unexpected!

The path leads to a museum of porcelain

and we got to see Ming Dynasty stuff, etc.  

Now those names mean more to me.  Gorgeous vases, dishes, and statues!

 And just to prove that sometimes it stopped raining...

 And then it started again.

 I wonder if there is ever a time to see the Forbidden City without 2 million other people?

(And there were probably fewer people there than usual because of the rain.)

Or at least we'd like to go when our feet aren't cold and wet.