The Forbidden City's neighboring park...

After the Great Wall, Noel and I made our way to downtown Beijing.
Tian'anmen Square...
the Forbidden City... (picture of the gate to the City)...
The hubbub of Beijing. We approached the City with much giddiness and excitment, and proceeded to enter through the 'side entrance'... what we thought was the side entrance.
We wove in and out of beautiful gardens, painted patios and pagodas, and impressive ceremonial buildings.
We took in the sites and sounds and smells of the 'Forbidden City'... until we came to the end of the park and looked over the very high wall to our right and saw the mammoth rooves of the palace rising up over them.

We were very confused. :)

So, we wound our way back out to enter the REAL Forbidden City... and got caught just outside of it, barracaded off by military personnel. It was time for the ceremonial taking down of the national flag. The sidewalk was cutoff to pedestrians, and the traffic was momentarily stopped while men in uniform marched across the street, took the flag down, and marched back.
(the gate to the FC lit up following the flag ceremony)

So we almost, but not quite, made it to the Forbidden City. Oh well. :) Fun stories and good times. The company is the best part, eh?

More to come. :)