Day 4: Who needs 24 hour fitness???

We started the day by going to the Temple of Heaven, which is located in a park. Now the interesting thing about this part is the locals use this park for exercise. Now many a park in the United States is used for exercise, but not akin to what they do in China. They basically have a whole part full of work out equipment. No monthly membership fee, no stinky gym smell, no personal trainers, (other than the person working out next to you who might offer a tip on the correct method to exercise), no tight bodies running around in spandex. Seems like a much better system to me….

Exercising on the bars.


A dance class

Leg press.

Julie and I at the Temple of Heaven.

After the Temple of Heaven and lunch it was on to the silk market. Now the silk market sounds as it would only contain silk, but to the contrary, it not only had silk, it has clothing, handbags, luggage, shoes, toys, sunglasses, watches, and of course my favorite, JEWLERY.

The vendors stand like vultures, waiting to decend upon you.

One of the negative things about the silk market is the aggressive vendors. You can hardly look at the merchandise, because they are in your face trying to sell you something. You really have to learn to ignore them, but they also grab you as well, which at first is a little unnerving. Julie and I have master the good cop, bad cop routine in negotiating. There was more than one occasion I made her leave so the vendor would give us the price we wanted.

Alicia & the girls with designer jeans, price $12.

This is Sammy, Alicia's favorite jewlery designer in China.

Alicia introduced us to her favorite jewelry designer, who is incredible! Wonderful jewelry, great prices. I now have many a fine new piece for my collection.

This is Lily, she works with Sammy and she is making me a necklace.

Oh, yeah baby, purses, purses, and more purses.