Greetings for the final time!

The very first young woman we met at the hotel’s reception desk was the same one who presented us with our bill on Saturday. She expressed her sadness at our leaving. In fact, we received a hug from her. That does not usually happen in China. We talked with her every day and it seemed as though the staff was there for very long hours.

Taxi rides seemed to be our favorite thing. Most of the drivers did not speak English so some of the typical information one can find from riding along did not occur. The hotel staff was most helpful in providing the drivers with the address and directions to places we were going by writing it on a card that contained the hotel’s name and address in Chinese. When we ran into difficulty with directions or a driver who did not know how to get to the hotel, we used a China Mobile cell phone we purchased and had the hotel give the driver the directions. It was great not being lost or without transportation.

For all of the families who have an Olympian, especially those who had to stay at home and watch the results on television, Beijing has taken special care to provide outstanding facilities for competition, an Olympic Village that was reported to be exceptional and a spectacular opening ceremony that left little doubt about how proud China is to host the Games. To those families that traveled to China to enjoy the moment and the moments to come, it will be a very special memory no matter the result. China has welcomed the world with open arms, its people deserve the applause of the millions who have watched and become intrigued with this very special nation.

The new airport is an art filled masterpiece. The architecture of it and the Birds Nest show the brilliance of that talent and what it represents to Beijing.

The Summer Olympics is a very special time for thousands of athletes, even those who aren’t at the events. The world turns to sport for a two week period and hopefully looks at competition rather than opposition. We have been searched and wanded many times but if that means there will not be any incident, the wait in lines and the opening of bags will be well worth it. The care that China has taken to make the Games safe should also be memorable.

A long plane ride awaits but the memories of the time spent in China will last a long time. I hope that those who are thinking about traveling to China will take advantage of that opportunity very soon. Its people will welcome you as they did two weary travelers from Lock Haven!