Beijing

It was a long flight, and even longer for Judes with a 10 hour stopover in London. But all went according to plan, Andy's driver met us in the airport, gave us a cellphone and took us to the hotel where we found Judes well and in good spirits.

We took a walk to the strip mall across the street and found a very hip and up-to-date cafe with Illy coffee and a good espresso machine - Just as if we were back in Small World or Jerusalem...

Avi & I woke a bit too early, and went down to breakfast early, but now we will all go to hunt for better coffee in the same cafe. We are meeting the guide at noon. After a Beijing tour today we will take the night train to Datong, so no updates until tomorrow.

And we read a new dispatch from the Lhotse-Everst tour - they have arrived at basecamp! http://www.everestnews.com/Summitclimb2005/everestnepal2005ua04152005.htm