Home Retirement

As you finish touring the Temple of Heaven you exit along a path that is parallel to a porch-like walkway. At the beginning there are people selling souvenirs then it thins out a lot and just before you leave the temple grounds there's a long stretch full of people. Our tour guide told us that a lot of retired folks come there to socialize and relax. It was like bridge group crossed with roller derby. Clutches of people played cards or Chinese chess and even more people were crowded around each clutch spectating and heckling and generally having a jolly old time.

If it had been a warmer time or we'd had more leeway in our schedule I could have stayed there snapping photos for hours. So many beautiful, passionate people, so much fun being had. It was one of my favorite photo opps of the trip.