Would you excuse me? I cut my foot earlier and now my shoe is filling up with blood.

August 25- Today we packed up all our stuff and switched to another hotel for our last nights in China (WOO and AWW all in one). It was difficult for the taxi man to find it, and it was extremely hidden so I can see why. We drove down a hutong (neighborhood) so it looked a little shady. When we arrived, the outside of the hotel looked dingy, but the inside was really pretty. It had a pretty courtyard and our room was spacious with really comfortable beds.

When we got settled, we went for lunch at a hot pot restaurant. Nobody spoke English and even the English menu was lacking some English, so we had a hard time figuring out what to order. We got some HOT chili pepper sauce and another white sauce that was much more tame. We ordered some meat that wasn't so good, potatoes, mushrooms, and cucumber, and ordered 'one long noodle,' which a guy makes in front of you while he does a crazy dance- quite a sight. The waitress basically showed us what to do, then did everything for us anyway when we tried to do it ourselves. They just laughed at us. Talk about lost in translation!

After eating, we went to the silk market AGAIN for last minute gifts, then got ready to go out and headed to Saddle Cantina for one last round of margaritas in China & some tacos. I'll be sad to see it go. After a couple there, we got in a taxi and headed to Nashville (it's a bar here! Crazy right?) because I had to see it. It wasn't super great or anything like Nashville whatsoever, though. When we were walking in, I stubbed my toe really hard on a tiny cement step up that I didn't see because it was dark, and it started bleeding profusely. I washed it off, and wrapped it up- then played a round of darts with Megan before heading back to the hotel.

August 26- MEGAN LEFT ME TODAY! :( I was all alone... she packed up her stuff while we watched the Democratic National Convention, braided my hair so I didn't have to hassle with it for my plane ride, then got in a taxi for the airport. When she left I went to get some dinero and walked around aimlessly- eventually finding a mall with a Papa John's. I ate there, walked around the mall, then decided to look for a subway stop to head to the silk market (it's really cool, trust me) for gifts I had forgotten. I walked around for awhile before I headed back to the hotel to watch some HBO, CNN and Cinemax (more English channels, yay!) and write in my travel journal. After a couple movies, I headed for one last dinner in Beijing- at Paul's Steak and Eggs. I had a very American meal- patty melt and mashed potatoes. I had a heck of a time getting a taxi back to the hotel! One taxi actually pulled over for me, but the door was locked and he wouldn't open it! Then he drove away- what an ass! It took about 25 minutes to actually have on stop and allow me to get in, which I was grateful for because it had started to rain. Now, here I sit on the computer at the hotel typing out this blog.. perhaps the last entry with information. Maybe I'll have one more being that I leave TOMORROW for AMERICA! I'm very excited to be coming back- washing my clothes, taking showers IN showers instead of over toilets, not being crowded, sweaty or stared at, not walking in water wondering if it's urine or spit, DRIVING MY CAR LIKE A SANE PERSON, and not having to go through 'security' 5,000 times a day. I'm looking forward to sharing my photos with you as well. Thank you all for reading my blog! It's been a crazy ride! Now I must go repack my things! You're Welcome Stockholm! ;-)