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BEIJING — I finally got a morning/afternoon off on Monday after several days burning the proverbial candle at both ends. I had two things on my agenda: Return my crutches to United Family Hospital out in the Chaoyang district, kind of near the beach volleyball venue, then hustle on over to the Mingjingyuan eyeglasses market.

N&O fashion writer Samantha Thompson-Smith, who along with N&O business staffers Vicki Lee Parker and Jonathan Cox, gave me the lowdown on Beijing before I left, insisted I make a run at the eyeglasses market.

It's like other big marketplaces in Beijing - most famously the pearl and silk markets - in that you'll be overwhelmed with options as soon as you walk into the place. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of the three levels of over 100 shops selling glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses.

BEIJING — In the months leading up to this trip to China for the Olympics, I read a lot of articles and talked to a lot of people who tried to scare me about taking public transportation or taxis in Beijing.

The drivers are crazy, like New York cabbie crazy times ten, they explained.

They lay on the horn the entire time they're driving, they said.

You're lucky when you arrive anywhere in one piece, they warned.

BEIJING — I'm beginning to wonder about the signage in Beijing.

On the streets, road markings and walk/don't walk signs are more like suggestions. Drivers, bike-riders and walkers are all kind of on their own program, dodging as they see fit. it all works out from what I can tell. I haven't seen any near accidents.

In buildings, you'll find any number of recycling bins all over the place. But they're so undersized, they can't possibly fit the amount of recyclables that this kind of city and visiting crowd would likely produce. They're like show containers and people dump trash in them all the time.

BEIJING — While other journalists from Japan are having troubles with the Chinese government and Amnesty International has had trouble with sensors here in China, apparently this blog wasn't deemed subversive enough to get blocked.

Thank goodness. I've been able to get on myself and do some work on the hotel computer while the rest of the city bristles with life and activity and, yes, some smog just beyond my door. Alas, my N&O computer is only good for showing me Friday Night Lights re-runs at the moment.

Another update on my ankle situation. Reps from China Eastern Airlines visited me this afternoon.

BEIJING — Before I ended up on the Olympics disabled list, I'd already figured out the best way to combat the sheer anxiety-inducing absurdity of being locked into a flying gas can for 14 hours.

Fly first class.

Disclaimer: My company did not pay for the upgrade. A generous someone did.

BEIJING — They say in China that bad luck at the start of a journey or a task is an auspicious thing.

Better to have it out of the way.

That's what my new friend Li Xinhua told me this morning after he scrapped me off the tarmac at Beijing International Airport, then made sure airline employees got me an ambulance to the hospital.