Within its walls were the secrets of the empire.  And, of course, they were forbidden to be seen except by the members of the royal court.

We start the day with the now usual bus convoy with police escort and blocked intersections.  Our buses pull up to the North Gate.  Because we are some 20 buses, we completely block the street and the North entrance.  The buses unload about 40 people each in the official yellow T-shirt of the festival.  We make quite a sight in front of the already packed streets and area surrounding the Gate.  We then get the "Royal Treatment" by walking past all of the other commoners waiting for tickets and cueing in line for admittance.

The north entrance leads into the private garden of the Emporer.  An enchanted place it must have been.  Wonderful trees and sculpted rock faces.  Stone pathways ornately decorated and arranged.  A special place.  Today it is overrun with tourist traffic.  Unfortunate.  In its time, it must have been a place of tranquility and a place for contemplation.

The main Palaces rise high in the middle of the compound.  Perhaps as high as a 6 story building?

The afternoon is filled with rehearsal for the evening concert in which the Americans will be featured with a couple of other choirs and all other choirs are scheduled for only 6 minutes apiece.

The Taipei choir is excellent, very well presented and difficult arrangements.  The Denmark choir performs well and sings one song that has become a favorite.  By now, the kids in the various choirs are starting to know each other . . so, those that are not performing are watching.  They holler and call out the names of their friends as they conclude their performances.  Everyone smiles.

The choir sings Away From the Roll of the Sea.  And, suprise, they have added some movement with hands waving as in the roll of the sea (a modification of the Wave from sports games) - but done with a very nice touch that adds grace to the song.  This is new and overnight (the choirs that had seen the Americans perform before in Hong Kong, Guangzchou and Beijing have not seen this before).  It is very well received and shows a certain flare.

Then they break immediately into Sousa's Stars and Stripes.  But, again a new twist.  They march to it this time - and they march right off the stage and into the audience.  The crowd is clapping in beat and loving it.  The choir members also love it and it is written on their faces.  This is fun.  They finish big and run out of the auditorium to the rear waving at the crowd.    There is wild applause.    As Dr. Ackerley will say later to the entire choir as they gather at the busses:  "To the American Choir members you have my congratulations, you performed BRILLIANTLY tonight".

It is beautifully preserved today.  It was then, and seems now, to be a place of worchip.  At the southern most part of the enclosed grounds (a red wall and blue tile roofs - representing earth & sky) is the "Round Alter".  Below it is a crematory altar which offered up sacrifices to the Gods before the commencement of the ceremony which occurred only twice a year, in the springtime and at winter solstice.  There are 8 round burning cauldrons representing the 8 Quing Emperors.  Then the white marble Round Alter rises.  This Round Altar is perhaps 75 yards in diameter.  It rises 3 tiers symbolizing earth, man, and heaven.  At the center of the top tier according to Chinese cosmology is the Center Stone (it is physically there raised maybe 5 inches from the surface of the top tier).  The Center Stone is said to mark the very center of the world, and thus the Emperor's voice would resonate to the Gods much more strongly here.  Only the Emperor would pray while kneeling or standing on the Stone.

Now imagine hundreds of visitors all trying to get their picture taken standing on the Stone.

The kids had a choice that night (as we were out of town shopping before the concert) to find their own place to eat.  I am disappointed to report to you that 8 out of 10 chose McDonald's.  The remainder chose Pizza Hut.  So, after almost two complete weeks in Asia, forget all the stuff that had been reported about the nimble hands and chopsticks.  Forget the notion that they were truly beginning to enjoy Dim Sum.  What happened was seemingly out of control and deeply rooted.  French Fries and Big Macs were devoured with glee.

The Closing Concert for the Festival was a success.  The kids knew this was the last one in Beijing, and they felt a certain excitement and in the final songs you could see the sadness of the week coming to a close.
 

We finally break into flat lands and agricultural farms, and as we do the air begins to clear.  We pass corn fields and rice paddies.  We see many ponds that appear to be either used simply for irrigation, or perhaps for fish farms.

When we pull into Tianjin we have one of the most amazing bus rides that any of us could ever hope to survive.  Survive is the right word.  This ride makes the roller coaster at New York in Las Vegas look tame.  We have a police escort that goes fast and winds in and out of traffic, nearly hitting cars and bvikes and pedestrians MANY times.

It is evident that this police escort is in a rush.  The police escort officers lean out of their cars and wave and scream at vehicles that are slow to pull over to the right.  Each intersection is blocked by another officer on foot or standing on a pedestal.

When we pull into the staging area for the "Official Welcome" we are amazed.  An inflated balloon archeay, reception hosts lined up to greet us, a loudspeaker system (LOUD SPEAKER), and TV trucks and cameras everywhere.  I doubt if many politicians in the United States have ever pulled up to this much fanfare.

The Americans, being first in the bus convoy, have the best view of all of this.  Perks.  We get off the bus and everyone is filmed by several TV station cameras as we unload.
 

From there we depart in another bus parade to the Tianjin Town Hall.  This is the first venue that looks and feels as you might have imagined - a big hall built maybe 40-50 years ago, with Red Star on the front and a cavernous fell on the inside.  Dirty seats and well trod floors.  This is the way a communist town hall was supposed to feel.

The rehearsal is very rushed.  Due to the late arrival in Tianjin, and the ceremony at the Science museum, lunch was late . . . and the concert this day was set to start at 4 pm.  So, truly, not much rehearsal . . . and, for the American choir, no rehearsal on the stage at all.  A good test of performance readiness and ability to adjust.

Following a good time at the ice cream vendors, we proceed to the Tianjin Grand Hotel (located adjacent and behind the Town Hall), for the Farewell Banquet.  The Board of Directors of the International Festival are seated with the conductors from each of the visiting choirs at a long formal table at the front of the room.  There are huge buffet tables set throughout this area (massive to accomodate the 600), and there is dancing and music as entertainment.  The Chinese know how to throw a party.
 

Remember Superman?  He was so fast, fast as a speeding bullet or train, that some thought it was possible he could be in two places at the same time!!!!

Today, your children will surpass the bounds of common knowledge.  In one hour they will board a plane at Beijing airport and set sail in skies bound for home.  Each of them will discover that it is possible to be in two places at the exact same time.  They depart at approximately 1 pm in the afternoon of August 27.  Some of them will be greeting you at airports in the United States, after some 22 hours in transit at exactly the same time!!!!

Having accomplished this difficult feat, they will greet you, smile and tell you they love you, and when you ask about the trip they will say "It was great".  And then, they will ask you to take them to Taco Bell or for a hamburger.  Some will ask if you have a stick of gum.  After that, they will sleep away the weekend and moan about going to school on Monday.

As the saying goes:  "Don't worry, be happy!"  They are safe at home, and the details of the trip will come out in bits and pieces over the next couple of months.  Take solace in the fact that all of the other parents are experiencing the same event with you!

May you all enjoy the right of your family members on return.   Thanks .   Mark