Fourteen Days and Counting

With the last two weeks to go before the opening ceremony, preparations for the games are high. The streets are decorated with flowers, pictures and plaques. Cars have been restricted to even and odd days, even though some have bought a second one. The Olympic lane has now been
made clear and traffic policeman are every where to be seen.

Are the Beijingers excited? I think one of my students summed it up well.
At present there is just a feeling of disenchantment and exhaustion. Even I who came with all the enthusiasm in the world, to be part of this great event, feels wrung out and tired from all the talk, prepping, moaning, complaining, visas, restrictions and pep commanding! It has taken the
fire out of the flame!

Nevertheless, I am sure that when they start, the city will rally itself and
be happy to take part in the festivities despite the foreseen inconvenience.
Last tickets have gone on sale, but are limited to two at a time for any one
event and each day another category will be on sale. People have begun to queue two nights previously and I did attempt to go and purchase one today, but after seeing the unbelievable line, suffered the heat a while and
went despondently home. So far even the ticket that I have purchased from the Official Foreign Website has of yet to appear!

Last week on a visit to the 'Silk Market' the most renowned of all the 'shopping' places, you could see that they were preparing for the coming onslaught of visitors, whilst shopping with a friend, bargaining became a full scale battle of wills, as the prices have risen considerably in the anticipation and only after arguing that we were 'Beijingers' if not temporarily was the 'right' price agreed upon. Admittedly when I first entered the market, just by passing and glancing and backwardly asking the price, I just laughed out loud at some of the ludicrous prices quoted!
So know what you want to spend, before you go out to shop!

Nevertheless, bargaining and taking home a couple of treasures is fun, but DVDs and copies are limited to 'special' official sites, so worth researching on the internet before you come as to which places will actually be open and selling what it is you wish to buy. As for me, not a
big shopper at the best of times, I will be saving any trips to the market till all the visitors have long gone, to ensure that I will get the 'best' price!!
Happy hunting.