Angela,
Nancy met me at the airport today and she is a delightful young woman!! She took me to the hotel; it is lovely and I decided just to stay here tonight. I went to the gym and worked out and took a nice bath, unpacked. On the way here from the airport I saw how beautiful Beijing is in the evening!! I am thrilled, as all the descriptions I read talked about the pollution, the sand and wind, etc etc and I was unprepared for the beauty I saw tonight.

I am excited about the tour tomorrow with Nancy. It will be very nice; she and I discussed what I want to see and her ideas for showing me the best things without too many tourists. I am happy with what you have done for me so far and want to thank you.

As for the last message, I never did know for sure about the cabin. I am not worried, as I think it will all be just fine. I was in the Shanghai airport today for 7 hours, bought a book on reading Chinese characters and practiced writing some. Met many nice Chinese people working there who were most helpful and taught me some Chinese words. I had a lovely tea and bought a beautiful tea set there. This is something I have wanted for years ever since I went to a tea ceremony, one at our Art Museum in Denver with a Chinese lady; another Japanese ceremony at the Botanic Gardens. I am fulfilling my dream of being in China at last and tomorrow and get to begin to see all the wonderful sights I have longed to see for so many years.

Thank you for your help.

(I am copying this to some of my family and friends, so they will know I arrived here just fine. Tomorrow is the Great Wall the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Road with a finale of Peking Duck Dinner!!)

Karen Shaw

• Client's Information: Karen Shaw

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