Frankly, folks, I have a problem with this.....

That's right--a Starbucks INSIDE the Forbidden City. Chairman Mao must be spinning in his grave--actually he's not because he's on view across from Tiananmen Square and one of the things I didn't get to see on my list.

Surprisingly, items from the Cultural Revolution are hawked everywhere here--not the Socialism of Lennin and Mao's period I'm sure. But Starbucks is pushing it too far.....

It was called the "Forbidden" City because only the Emperor and his Court were allowed inside. Obviously it was a fortress and a grand one at that. If I ever have the good fortune to visit Beijing again I would like to spend considerably more time here.







I work a day and half this week and then Wednesday morning I'm flying to Xian to spend a night and view the Terracotta Warriors, the Wild Goose Pagoda, and the ancient city walls there.

I plan to post again before I fly to Xian--I do have a half-day free on Tuesday to see some more sights. Until then........