This morning we bid farewell to a gloomy Xian and took the train to our next destination: the capital of Sichuan, the city of pandas, the Mecca of spicy food: Chengdu! The train journey was pretty much the same as the one to Xian (it is, in fact, the same line): about one hour’s ride… Continue reading Train to Chengdu, Taikoo Li
Big Wild Goose Pagoda, The Terracotta Warriors
Today’s top priority was the visit to the Terracotta Warriors in the afternoon, so in order to save up some energy for that I made a lightweight plan for the morning: a visit to Daci’en Temple, home to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (not to be confused with the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which is… Continue reading Big Wild Goose Pagoda, The Terracotta Warriors
Xian Old City
Day One of Two in Xian and I am SPENT. By the end of this trip they’ll have to roll me onto the plane with a wheelbarrow! Today’s plan was to visit the old town of Xian, that is, the square area within the old city walls, and leave the famous Terracotta Army for tomorrow.… Continue reading Xian Old City
Sanlitun, train to Xian
My legs are GONE. I just wanted you to know that. After climbing up and down the entire Great Wall of China like a mountain goat, my calves are so sore from first thing in the morning that I just go “Ow ow ow” every time I have to walk down the stairs. Because of… Continue reading Sanlitun, train to Xian
Shichahai, The Great Wall of China
Today’s pièce de résistance was no less than The Great Wall of China! I left it for today because it’s just about the only attraction that opens on Mondays, but like with the Forbidden City, in order to avoid the crowds I wanted to visit in the afternoon, so for the morning we went hutong… Continue reading Shichahai, The Great Wall of China
The Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven
My second day in Beijing! I seriously feel like I’ve been here a week. I don’t even remember what I used to do for a living. Today was another ambitious itinerary, albeit a simple one with only two items on it. First, the Summer Palace, a vast retreat for the poor emperors who got bored… Continue reading The Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven
The Lama Temple, The Forbidden City
Our first full day in Beijing, and it was intense! I feel like I’ve been here at least four days already. The main item in today’s itinerary was to visit the Forbidden City, and I usually start the day with the most important visit first, to make sure I’ll have time for everything and to… Continue reading The Lama Temple, The Forbidden City
Arrival in Beijing, Qianmen
This one has been a long time coming: I am going to China! I think I say this every year, but this is the trip that I have planned the most, starting the earliest, and to the greatest detail, which is saying something. For starters, I have been learning Chinese for one year now, so… Continue reading Arrival in Beijing, Qianmen
Musei Capitolini, Colosseum, the Vatican
I swear I’m going to need a double foot transplant after this trip! Once again I’ve been blessed by the gods of weather, as the heavy rain that was forecasted for all day never materialized, so although it was noticeably colder than yesterday, I was able to keep walking up and down Rome without a… Continue reading Musei Capitolini, Colosseum, the Vatican
Villa Borghese, Centro Storico, Trastevere
Surprise! I am in Rome! The first item on my list was to visit the Galleria Borghese, a gorgeous palace and museum inside of the great park of Villa Borghese, which happens to be just next to my hotel. I had read online that the tickets sell out, and not only that, but they seem… Continue reading Villa Borghese, Centro Storico, Trastevere