First day in China we take a cab to T'iananmen Square.  Across the street is the Forbidden City. 

We have no translators, no guide.  Just the hope that where we are going is safe for us to visit ...

at least safer than Providence!  The sound of music blaringly fills the square.  Police glance around suspiciously.  Hawkers approach us selling 10 postcards for a dollar.  Welcome to China!

We had to take an underground passage to get across Chang'An Ave to the entrance of the Forbidden City ...T'iananmen Gate.  We cautiously entered, glancing every which way, yet we saw none of the fearful sites we would expect in a city of 12 million ... no beggars, no gang members, no drunks, no acrid smell. Just smiling people, many families  and groups.  We emerged and walked through the Gate as Mao smiled down upon us.  Inside, we discovered one of the most popular attractions in China ... Westerners (i.e. us!!!)!!!  From that point on we were beseiged  by people we couldn't understand wanting to take pictures of us ... especially the girls.  And everyone was happy!

After meeting all of these wonderful, friendly people and being approached by a few entrepeneurs offering their services as a guide (for a fee of course!) we bought our tickets and got our cassette guide tape (narrated by Roger Moore) and headed for the Meridian Gate and The Forbidden City!