Can you believe that the day isn't over yet? With all of this, Odysseys still has more - and we don't feel rushed or packed in - never feel like we're remaking "If This is Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium". And, no, Odysseys isn't paying me anything to say that (yet...) it is heartfelt.
The bus driver does some *really* impressive driving to get us back *out* of the parking lot: very-tight with no clear aisles available - and we head back cross-town to the "Summer Palace" - where the nobility moved their court for the warm summer months - as opposed to the Forbidden City. Hey... you didn't think that an Emperor could get by with only 7.8 Million square feet, did you? Imagine the logistics and spectacle of moving "everything an Emperor wants" across town - twice a year - including all of the advisers, courtiers, courtesans (wives), cooks, etc. It must have been quite the "parade".
As we enter, there is a sign posted which ultimately reminds us that we're still in the "May Day" weekend: 100,000 people visited this site yesterday and (since it is Monday) "only" 70,000 are expected today.
It is still overcast (maybe that's just the air pollution) and the fluffy pollen is still falling like a gentle snow as we "follow the bouncing Pandas" in toward the entrance.We step through the gates onto the view of a large lake. Really *very* serene - despite the 69,976 other people. I can clearly see why the nobility chose to "summer" here. A bridge crosses part of the lake to give access to an island. The Palace sits high on the bank. Dragon boats silently cruise the lake - dodging paddle boats with individual families in them. Really very pretty and blood-pressure-lowering.
I usually hate "crowd scenes" but this really made me smile. 
Vivian and Chen lead us down a relatively-narrow walkway skirting the lake. It is packed - and supposed to be one-way the way we're going, but enough people are pushing their way thru the *other* way - that it is difficult to negotiate and is slow going. But that's OK. There are beautiful things to see.
We get to the "corner" of the lake, then start our way down "the world's longest walkway".
Yeah, I know it's blurry, but I still think it's a cool photo - showing that we were walking along the walkway. It is decorated all along with individual, different paintings along the top. 
and roof 
We follow our way along - jostling with the crowd - following the "bouncing Panda" (the white flag that Vivian uses to let us know where she is) - and stop occasionally.
It *is* quite the long walkway and about halfway we get to the Palace.
And I'm relieved to hear that we're *not* going to climb up to it because there's not much to see *in* the palace - and I'm getting a little tired on my feet anyway.More walking and we finally emerge at an open square with "buying opportunities" and people milling around. Some people get their pictures taken standing next to one of the uniformed Chinese army guards. But I, again, get more "taken" with the people around. One little girl has been presented with a special hat by her proud parents - and she is just - irresistible.
And we encounter "the Chinese Navy". Apparently the dowager Empress decided that money was better spent on beautiful gardens - than on a Navy - so she took the funds which were *supposed* to go to a Navy - and built beauty instead. I can't argue with her sentiments. But ultimately it likely contributed to the ease with which Westerners managed to force themselves onto Chinese society during the Opium Wars. Anyway. As a nod to the naysayers, the Empress *did* build *one* "boat" - made of solid marble.
It was a nice place to sit and look out over the lake. Too bad that *somebody* always has to come along and make you wish that you had spent more on items of war. Meanwhile, people are milling around taking plenty of photos - and we find another Chinese woman who clearly wants a photo with the Westerners. So Art, one of the "other bearded men in our group" and I - get to flank the woman and capture the moment.
And, yes, I eat this stuff up! I wonder just where I'll wind up once the Chinese all get my image back to Photoshop???We're lead around a corner - back to the main part of the lake, and I'm pleased to hear that we get to *ride* a Dragon Boat back to the entrance.
Nice. Serene. Just gliding along the lake - looking back at what we'd walked past. Back to the Entrance/Exit.We collect and John & Judy show us that they got a great deal on a pair of hats. Their friends throw a "silly hat" party every year and they figure that now they are ready.
Annnd I like John's hat so much that it plants the idea firmly in my brain for later.... Then we turn around and find 2 little girls with their *own* hats - and poses to match. Just TOOoooo cute to ignore. 
Back to the bus and Vivian tells us that she can arrange tickets to the Beijing Opera for that evening for those who would like an extra outing. Unfortunately, we decide that it is a good idea and we sign up.
Next, Beijing Opera
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