*^*
It's officially warm in Beijing with some relatively clear skies and outdoor seating at restaurants. More Chinese girls in summer dresses eating popsicles, restaurants are offering cold zhou with osmanthus flower as well as outdoor seating, and old Beijing men with exposed bellies are lounging outside, fanning themselves off.
This afternoon on the subway I saw three older women chatting in a completely foreign Chinese language that I imagine may be from Fujian or a southern province. They had cheap red tour company visors on and seemed to be really enjoying themselves.
Ariel got back from his European trip bringing gifts of cheese and coffee and cookies. He was missed by his Chinese comrades.
