Our First Official Visitors!

Beth and Tom (Joann's sister and Jim's brother...yes, the ones that are married...) get the prize for being our first official visitors to Nanjing. We had a good visit with them as they tried to cram as much China into 10 days as possible. We met them in Shanghai, took the train to Suzhou, then drove to Nanjing. After 5 quick days in Nanjing, they went to Beijing. I have a few photos, but I must confess, when Tom is around I'm less inclined to take photos because he photographs EVERYTHING. Maybe, if we are really lucky, he will share a link with me when he gets all of his photos up on his website, http://www.arneberg.com/

No, they aren't in their Chinese hotel room! I took them out for foot massages, complete with fresh, hot ginger packed around the knees. Tom had a hard time relaxing because his feet are very sensitive. I think he giggled through most of it. I totally enjoyed my massage, until my guy stretched my hip joint in a direction it can't go and TORE my hip flexor muscle. I walked out of the massage o.k., but woke up in the night paralyzed from pain and unable to move my left leg. After anti-inflammatories, ice, rest, and prayer, I am moving alittle more freely. But it will be a process of healing. Unfortunately, I was very limited in my ability to be a tour guide after my injury. :-( My mom and Aunt Marjory are our next visitors in a few weeks and I am hoping they will slow down for me!

This one is for Alison! Wish you were here! Aunt Beth doesn't giggle quite as much as twizzlin' awesome Alison!

We went out for a Korean meal in Nanjing. Tom was searching for the perfect meal in China, but I'm not sure he found it. He is one tough customer--except when it comes to spicy hot peanuts made in Nanjing!

We visited some sites for the first time--we've been saving them to do with visitors. This photo was taken at a well-preserved gate to the Nanjing City Wall. The ramps were for soldiers on horseback to quickly ascend to the top. They allowed me to hobble up for the view.

One of the soldiers standing guard at the Nanjing City Wall (the big one in the back!).

Brothers. We took a boat ride through a series of canals from the city wall to the Confucius Temple. Tom was the quintessential tourist, with his red baseball cap, bulging backpack, camera bag, and ever-present water bottle. Jim travels light.

Some Chinese men carrying a load--photo taken from the boat.

Another picturesque scene from the boat. We hope to take this ride again with our next visitors. Beth and Tom took a night train to Beijing with Jim. They went to tour the big sites--Tiananmen Square, Olympic venues, and the Great Wall. Jim went to visit Rosemount in Beijing and saw some of the same products, processes, and machines he worked on 16 years ago in Minnesota. He felt like he was in the Twilight Zone. (He was involved in the technology transfer in 1992!)

We are eager to hear how life goes for Beth and Tom as they re-enter life in Wisconsin.