All we were tryiing to do was catch a cab.  But the ‘traffic warden’ was in the way.  We’ve been spoiled because we have hired drivers to take us around Beijing to do our stories. But on this day we were on our own. Trying to hail a cab was a challenge. There are so many people trying to do the same thing.

This is how a lot of people in Beijing get around. It’s quite handy. But you can bet there are no airbags.

Here’s a new clip from Marianne showing just how close she is to the Today Show cast and crew in Beijing!

The Bird’s Nest Stadium, also known as National Stadium is incomparable.  Standing next to it is like David and Goiiath.  I would say that it represents China today as the Great Wall represents ancient China.  Even walking around it , it’s just amazing at how it’s built.

On the way to Track and Field with Executive Producer of the OLYMPIC ZONE : Colin Macaulay.

Inside the Bird’s Nest.  91-thousand seating capacity .  The site for Track and Field.

This is where Bernard Lagat and Lopez Lomong and Tyson Gay ran their races.

And the concession stands look familiar.  Tsingtao beer 5 YUAN…..that translates to 80 cents a cup!!!!  Cheers!

Surprise Siting: MICHELLE KWAN!!!!!!!

Do not drink the water

This is the sign above the faucet in my hotel bathroom sink.  We use bottled water to brush our teeth. It’s quite an adjustment.

NBCSandiego posted this clip of Marianne shopping for silk – and even getting a custom made tunic!

  It’s a stormy day in Beijing. Torrents of rain fall. Thunder and lightening and we got SOAKED ! But it was fun! It rained so hard it got into my eyes! We had come so prepared and we left our umbrellas and raincoats in the hotel room.

On the way to the Great Wall, the same day, a camel chained to a pole.

A cute little girl at the Great Wall

.

Bargaining at the Great Wall. They quote you a price in yuan, Chinese currency and you counter with half the amount and go down from there.

I had the chance to visit our friends at the  Today Show . They’re the best. It’s the first time that they’re altogether for an international Olympics.   They’re real, they’re awesome and they’re a hoot!

Matt, Ann, Me, Meredith, Al

Mark Traub is the stage manager and he keeps things movin’! You might hear his laugh every once in a while and see him occasionally in the show. He’s the best. Because they do the show during dinner time Beijing time which is 7 a.m. New York time when the show airs, he doesn’t get dinner! So today he emailed me to say he finally got out and had some awesome dumplings!

Mark Traub and Me

Al and Me

It’s amazing who you run into in Beijing. Check out this behind-the-scenes clip of Marianne with the Today show crew.

    I can’t believe we’ve arrived! I started taking pictures from the time we were in the air. From the food to the people to the climate to the buildings to the smells…good and bad there is something to talk about everywyere you look. On my first day here I ran into a familiar pal ! Yup Matt and the Today show crew are working just across the hall from us along with Nightly News, although I haven’t seen Brian yet!

Matt and Me

  It finally hit me that we were on our way to China when we were served our snack! Chinese noodles..actually they were like cup of noodle but you get the idea.

Snack Time-Chinese Noodles

 We had to go to the Bird’s Nest Stadium! The weather is’t always like this.

Photojournalist Jeff and me

Getting through Olympic Security

Our Kick-Off Dinner

Chicken Feet

Two days away till the Games begin!