I'm living in Chongwenmen again, same place as last time. This time they've given me a really cool unit with a mezzanine bedroom, so it's more of an apartment than a studio. And very interesting: instead of a heater unit, they've got heated floors. The whole apartment is nicely warm.
Also, it's quiet here during nighttime. I've been sleeping with earplugs in Shanghai for the last couple of weeks, not so much because of the traffic but mainly because there's some electricity equipment humming right outside my window. It's sooooooo nice so sleep in a warm, quiet apartment. If you need somewhere to stay in Beijing, check this place out: www.stayinbeijing.com
Ooh ooh ooh! And I've got a balcony overlooking a hutong courtyard. Sweet! This whole area was a massive hutong sprawl just two years ago, but they've bulldozed the whole thing to make way for residential blocks and shopping malls. They saved one cute little courtyard and it's right in front of my apartment.
Every morning there's a group of soliders doing some kind of exercise inside the courtyard, and it's a great way to start my day to bulk up in two jackets on top of two layers of clothes, and then drink my morning coffee watching them run around and being all alert.
It's good to be back
