June 30.  11:45pm.  And we’re packing for our flight home.  Scrambling.  So much remains unsaid and unposted here.  Will try to get a few more things up before the van arrives tomorrow afternoon to take us to the airport… including notes and pix from our time in Yangshuo last week.

Earlier this week the girls had their last play date in China: a trip to the Water Cube. Remember… the place where Michael Phelps won all those gold medals at the 2008 Olympics.  It’s been transformed into an indoor water park.  We had to do it once, and the girls had a blast…

Just to note, the Water Cube sits just across the parking lot from the Bird’s Nest, the 2008 Olympic stadium, designed by the “dissident Chinese artist” Ai WeiWei.  Mr. Ai was held in jail for 3 of the 5 months we’ve been in China.  He was released last week…

Last play date in Beijing: Cece, Annie, Jasmine, Karen, Elle and Celine

The Water Cube...

Again...

Nearing the end of our marathon...

Future olympians...

Only Art...

Where Michael Phelps made history, winning 8 gold medals...

The aquatic center portion of the cube...

Pure China style...

Elle...

Peach...

Fun (but maybe more fun if it were in open air...)

Cece, you did it!

Friends...

Celine and Elle... they've been so good for each other...

Cece loved dancing to the tsunami...

Safe?

Art rode the radical slide. Naturally...

Just swim. Just swim. Go on with your story… (D. Roshi)