At least their apparently unknown dissatisfaction was made up for the following year when their daughter came home from Beijing with 6 Olympic medals. I'm sure that is some consolation to them. They're seasoned travelers having been around Europe, Asia and Australia, and I know one of them is a shrewd bargainer when it comes to jewelry, having seen her in action. I have no skills in that area.

They found out about China Focus from other friends that did the tour before them. They paid about $1,000 a head which included air (thought that was a spectacular price). I would have gone along with them but for the fact that I was arriving back from a trip to Buenos Aries a day or two before and didn't want to do that many consecutive days out. I like a break between big trips.