August 5/08 10:30 am - Beijing

Posted by Editor on 08/5/08
 

Arrived yesterday afternoon in Beijing from Toronto. The new airport is quite spectacular, and the efficiency of processing Olympic credentialed people was amazingly smooth, better than any major Games I have ever attended. There are an enormous number of locals working with the Games, and all are anxious to be helpful - a question about directions this morning brought out three maps, 6 people and a telephone call to get more info!

When I arrived, there were blue skies and sun. It could have been a day in Toronto or Montreal, although within half an hour there was an acrid taste in the back of my mouth, and washing my hands left black smears on a towel. However, this morning shows how bad the air can be...

The view from my hotel at 8:30am