A much-needed update to my blog, with apologies…

Posted on January 17, 2014 in Archives, Travels

January 17, 2014 Beijing

Yes, smoggy Beijing! It has been so long since I’ve posted on my blog. My life the past 6 months has been a little crazy: in July we left Bulgaria to go to the States to get our visas straightened out for the next episode in our lives: 3 to 5 years in Chengdu, China! While in the States, I went to see an orthopedic surgeon about some problems I had been having with my knee, only to have him not only suggest knee replacement surgery, but to fit me in, so I stayed with friends for several months while I had surgery and recuperated, finally moving to Sichuan in October. My physical therapy has taken most of my time and energy and my husband’s job has kept him occupied. We managed to escape to Thailand for a couple of weeks, both of us miserable with smog-induced bronchitis, and now we’re in Beijing for a few days of meetings and sightseeing. I have tons of notes and photos that I hope to soon work into the blog, but I am also struggling with learning yet another language … one without an alphabet! I begin school full-time (at age 64!) next month. I have posted literally thousands of photos on my Facebook page, which I welcome you to explore. Feel free to ask me to be your “friend” and I will accept your invitation. You can find me here. In the photo above, taken last night at the night market off Wangfujing Street near the Forbidden City, there are mantis shrimp and silkworm larvae and several kinds of snakes and squid and pork parts ready to be grilled or fried to your liking. We ate sea urchins, snake, scorpions (!), lamb, quail, pork, potstickers, and crab from street vendors. It was amazing. More to come, I promise.