FINALLY, getting ready to go!

Finally, our trip to China is coming together. The work with Maryann's client to finalize the business portion has been long and complicated. Taking 19 business people to China and planning all aspects of the trip takes a great deal of patience and creativity.

We leave on July 3rd, miss most of the 4th of July, and end up in Beijing (we hope) late on July 4th. We took a chance on an economy flight and upgraded so hope to have some comfort on the way there. We are staying at the Marriot Courtyard (American hotels for some convenience and English).

Our tour is with Kensington and begins in ancient Beijing. Sprinkled with a few business meetings, the trip will include seeing the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, an opera, a visit to a home, and many miles of China. We head to Guillan next to see exquisite terrain, take a bicycle ride, and float down the river to Yangshou. Here, we stay at a Sheraton and then a Chinese Hotel. We will experience theater and a cooking class there.

We head to Guanzhou and Hong Kong where Maryann goes to work 7x24 while Peter tours the industrial site of the former city of Canton, China. We have one more touring day together in Hong Kong with work colleagues Lisa, Nigel, and Andrea - and then back to the U.S.

We understand it will be hot so we are selecting clothes and planning to travel light (carry on only).

Countdown? 18 days to departure!