Hutong - the Old Part of Beijing

 
Today we had a short visit to the old part of Beijing called Hutong. Hutongs are streets where it is mainly impossible to go by car because the passages are very narrow. Hutong is also the poor part of the city. Most houses do not have their own lavatories, but have to use the public ones sat up every 500 meters. Nowadays most of these houses do have a central heating system, but some years ago only a few did. Our guide tells us, if you place all Hutongs of Beijing in a row they would have the same length as the Chinese wall .
 
To make our way through the Houtong we where driven by riksha's, always two and two persons. This is mainly a tourist attraction and I can not say I liked it very much. But I understand the drivers want to make some money so I i stept onto one. We where driven for about an hour, but made a 20 minutes stop and went into the house of a kind old man who showed us around. He also offered us some refreshments, but don't ask me what it was. All in all it was very interesting seeing this part of Beijing. It is the total opposite of what you normally get to see.
 
In the afternoon Carina, Max and I took a Taxi to one of Beijing's main shopping streets. We didn't go bananas, because everything was very expensive. It was one of the really exclusive shopping streets, with brand stores like Rolex, Armani, Versace and and and.. Tomorrow we will start all over again with a shopping mall where you can bargain. That's what we want.
 
Now we are back in our room and for once we are watching TV, Chevy Chase. After that we will go to dinner.
 
Tomorrow there is nothing on the program except a Christmas lunch. The families with elder children will go out for dinner tomorrow too, and after that we will go some rounds around the hotel's Christmas tree singing Norwegian Christmas songs. Then will will gather on the 11th floor in the lounge and celebrate Christmas.
 
We wish all of you a merry Christmas with your loved ones and lots of
 
A big hug from Ole, Beate, Carina, Max and Yasmin
 
Pictures:
 
Picture 1:
Ole & Max on the riksha
 
Picture 2:
Beate, Carina & Yasmin on the riksha
 
Picture 3:
Max gets "carried away.."
 
Picture 4:
Street sign in Hutong
 
Picture 5:
Our host
 
Picture 6:
A typical Chinese
 
Picture 7:
Everywhere you see the laundry - mainly long john's
 
Picture 8:
Yasmin walks around the bed. She can stand and walk when we hold her on her hand.
 
Picture 9:
Another "standing" picture of Yasmin.
 
Picture 10:
Yasmin 20 minutes ago
 
Picture 11:
The rest of the family right now, while I am posting this. We really do have quality family time here! It's really fun being all together in such a small room. No fighting, no arguing, just smile and laughter - I LOVE IT!!!
 
 

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