Wednesday and Thursday - 2 Days Off For Moi

Russia fail to star against Argentina going down by 5-25 after playing poorly against solid play by Argentina.

That night I arrange to go to one of the most sensational restaurants I have been to. The food pretty darn good but the decor and surroundings are quite unimaginable. LAN is the Philippe Starke designed club/restaurant. Nothing I could describe could do it justice so have a look here:

Unfortunately their website isn’t working but let me describe it. Confused, paintings hung on the ceilings, paintings simply leaning on the walls, mirrors everywhere and simply funky as possibly imaginable. Just the front page on their site may give you a clue:
http://lanbeijing.com/index1.php

Wednesday morning and I decide to visit a nearby markets – what do I need – nothing but a market is a market.

Australia Open have climbed to 11th but with 56.5 off qualifying things look grim
The Australian woman are 9th and only 22 off qualifying so some good chances there
Shining light for the Australians is the Seniors team Running second and easily qualifying
Looking at the Kiddies as they are affectionately known.
U28 are running 25th and only 21 off qualifying so some hope there
U26 forecast to do well and so it proves with them running 3rd comfortably qualifying
U21 are running 9th and within reach of qualifying

I buy a few bits and pieces at the markets and treat myself to a 30 minute massage with one doing my head/neck and the other my legs and feet – worth every bit of the $US6.

Back to the hotel to prepare for Yom Kippur services. We leave the hotel at 15:00 for the kosher restaurant where dinner starts at 15:30. The crowded restaurant serves a simple kosher fare of krepplach soup, salad, chicken schnitzel and muffin/fruit desert.

A mini bus takes us to the Hilton where services are to be held. I am somewhat surprised by there not being more WMSG participants attending but am pleased to see some youth from the Aruba bridge team and Venezuela Open team player there. The service is great. Speed praying and all over within 1:45 including two sermons. The rabbi is warm and welcoming and as with all of the Chabbad services I have been to, I felt very welcomed and comfortable.

Home for an early night.

Next morning I check the results and see the following:

OPEN – 8 FROM EACH GROUP QUALIFY
Open Group D
1 Germany 298.00
2 USA 275.00
3 England 268.00
4 Turkey 267.00
5 Indonesia 258.00
6 Greece 225.00
7 Thailand 220.00
8 Lebanon 214.00
12 Australia 193.50

WOMEN’S – TOP 5 AND BEST 6TH QUALIFY
Women’s Group F
1 China 268.50
2 Finland 261.00
3 France 260.00
4 Denmark 252.00
5 Russia 248.00
5 Spain 248.00
7 Scotland 241.00
8 Venezuela 228.00
9 Canada 227.00
10 Australia 226.00

SENIORS – TOP 8 QUALIFY
Open Group L
1 Indonesia 262.00
2 Australia 260.00
3 Poland 234.50
4 Canada 228.00
5 Egypt 224.00
6 Germany 201.00
7 Netherlands 195.00
8 China 192.50

It will take up too much room if I list all of the results so look at the bulletin here:
http://www.worldbridge.org/bulletin/08_2%20Beijing/pdf/WMSG/bul_06.pdf

Thursday morning – fasting OK and off to services. Again a lovely service where I am more at home than normally in Synagogue. People are respectful here and not talking constantly. The services finish at 1:30 and restart at 16:30 and as I sit here now am not sure I will return.

Be well and more later