Mao Morbid

(pictures will come when I'm not stuck behind China's censors)
Today we went to visit Mao and bring the number of dead communist
leaders that Chris has visited to two out of three. It is free to get
into the Mao memorial that is located at the south end of Tiananmen
square, but no bags or cameras are allowed inside, so you can check
those for 5rmb ($0.73) at a luggage check to the right of the national
museum from the square. We unexpectedly got help from a local and we
were gifted with the ability to tip him 30rmb ($4.41) for his
services; he asked for 150rmb ($22) while posing as a museum worker.
After being corralled though barricades intended for far more people
we went through a security checkpoint that emptied us into a foyer
that included a giant sitting statue of Mao and single flowers left by
mourners. After that the line is split into two that that we could
quickly proceed on either side of the clear coffin that eerily
illuminated his face. Armed guards and attendants kept the line moving
so everyone got a quick glimpse before the memorial closes at noon.
The sight is odd but nothing new after seeing Ho Chi Minh and it is
good that it is free; it could be a waxed sculpture for all we know.
We wondered around a replica old-style neighborhood that is just south
of the square, and clearly recreated for the 2008 olympics. The area
was mostly retail and chain stores, a very interesting looking
Starbucks is there, but more authentic restaurants and souvenir shops
are located behind the buildings accessible through alleys. We grabbed
way too much food, a beef and noodle soup and red-bean spring rolls,
for 66rmb ($9.69) with cola.
We got lost looking for the Summer Palace and decided to go the the
National Stadium, "bird's nest" instead. Luckily a single subway ride
anywhere is 2rmb ($0.30) and a single bus trip is 1rmb ($0.15). The
station for the Olympic venue is called, easily enough, Olympic Sports
Center and it spits you out with the neat in view. It seemed like any
other stadium I've been to and I would have rather seen an event there
but hey, we saw it in person.