Off to bed

And then off to see you in the morning.  I can't wait!

Love,
D

Temple Fair at Ritan Park

Dear D,

Over Chinese new year, I decided to take part in a popular custom by attending one of Beijing's many temple fairs. During Spring Festival (aka Chinese new year) Beijing clears out, which turns the bustling city in to a surreal, ghost town that feels like D.C. So, I was a bit taken aback when a 20 minute bike ride dropped me in the biggest crowd I'd ever seen:

Tickets were 10 RMB per person. Someone was making a fortune.

Once inside I realized that all the flower/fruit/cartoon turd - topped sticks were selling well because friends and families didn't want to lose one another in the crowd.

Prizes begging to be released from their saran wrap prisons.

A happy prize winner.

Posing with a tiger. A bit disappointed, since it's the year of the dragon.

Tastes from the middle east (...?)

And crammed between stalls selling ancient Chinese weaponry and traditional handicrafts: PvZ is really big here.

"Fake paws, come and get your fake paws!"

Korean glutinous rice things.

CHURROS.

All in all a worthwhile experience, even if I left after an hour due to hyperventilation and anxiety. One can only push through so many crowds, be stepped on so many times and knock over so many grannies. Happy year of the dragon!

Love,

L

Sushi lunch

Dear L,

Happy two-year anniversary!  I had the most delicious sushi lunch today, coordinated all the way from China.

It came in a big, brown paper bag...

So much food!

Salad, sushi, sashimi, fruit, ice cream.  All of it delicious.  Thank you for making this a great anniversary!

Love,

D

Clementine juice

Dear L,

DG visited this weekend, which was a blast.  We had brunch at the Ritz Diner, where our food came with the smallest orange juice cups of all time.  Barely four fingers tall!

Love,
D

I'm back to the blogosphere!

Dear D - How's it looking on the protest front? It must be getting cold...those protestors can't stay out there on the sugar block much longer!! I just realized I meant to write <1% on that sign. I guess I use < too much for hearts and what not wiiink

It was a cold and clear day today, so I did a lot of walking. I also bought the first season of Mad Men, finally jumping on that trend a few years late.

I was trying to figure out why there were no new movies in the DVD shop ("someone's must've filmed this in a Russian theater by now...where's my DVD??"), and I realized it's because the Chinese people working in the black market movie market must be taking vacation for Spring Festival! Curses.

love,

L

Untitled

Dear L,

I miss you.

Love,
D

Dear readers

Dear readers,

L is in China, where Blogger is censored, so unfortunately there won't be any letters for a while.

D

More Goteborg

Back at last

Dear L,

The first lacrosse tournament I'll be playing in since my shoulder surgeries is tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

Found this great picture of a Sweden team-building game, I think we had to make shapes with the rope while blindfolded:

Love,
D

Celebration sushi