day 61, the Great Wall and Beijing

Hi everybody, (pics and vids later)

Yesterday we had a fabulous day in Beijing, Great Wall, and the silk market. We both agree that it was the best day of the trip thanks to Peter, our guide. Many thanks Rachel for connecting us up with Peter via sister Lucia. We had a bit of a frustrating start as we stood for over an hour at the gangway before they would let us off the ship so we got a lot later start than we expected. The car trip to the wall at Mutianyu took over two hours-a little longer than the places on the wall that the ship's tours went but much more exciting. We had a bathroom stop before going up the cable car to the top of the wall. The reason I mention this is I was warned the toilets were often very primitive-just a hole in the ground but this one was okay-no squatting.

We walked up the hill with booths on either side selling all kinds of tourists stuff plus fruit and vegetables. I wish I had taken time to buy some stuff here but I was turned off by the people grabbing me and shoving stuff in my face and saying "Lay Dee-very nice-one dollar, one dollar". I looked at first but that just encouraged them and Peter told us just keep walking and don't make eye contact. I did buy two sweatshirts that say "I climbed the Great Wall". Mine, however, is a little short in the sleeves and a bit tight if worn over other clothes so it will probably be passed on to one of you. Any takers? It is black with a white picture of the Great Wall.

The views as we rode up in the cable car were terrific. The day was rather cloudy and as it is early spring here the landscape is very forbidding. The mountains are very steep and then you see this big stone wall at the peak. I can't see how the enemy could have got over the mountains even without a wall but I suppose the towers held armed guards who would make sure they didn't. Some people think the wall wasn't built to keep the enemy out but just a "make work"project for the soldiers now that China was conquered.

We got off the cable car at the top and walked along the top of the wall for perhaps 1/2 mile. The wall is about 12 feet wide with repaired brick size about 5 feet tall so there is no danger of falling off every so often there is a lookout space to see the landscape on the other side. You can't really look around while you are walking because it is a bit tricky walking-lots of steps up and down and they are quite uneven. Even up here there are a few stands selling drinks, water etc. I bought a Snickers chocolate bar-it looks like a Snickers, tasted just the same, but it is made in China and cost only $.50(Peter said this was expensive).

We had lunch before getting on the cable car at a small restaurant. Peter arranged it for us and did all the talking. He is Australian by the way but speaks Mandarin as well. Peter was terrific. He is a Christian who has come to China in large part as a missionary and much of his work seems quite dangerous because other than state authorized churches Christian assemblies are illegal. He is married and has three children and is on the verge of starting his tour business he has been a language teacher in China as well as in Australia. He is completely fluent in Mandarin. We had some noodles in broth-I did not like them too much but also a big plate of dumplings with minced pork and vegetables inside which were delicious.

After our walk along the wall, which took us through to towers he came to our place to descend. This was one of the reasons we wanted to go to this part of the wall. Rachel and Abbyhad told us how much fun this was. It is a huge Luge type track that snakes down the mountain and each person sits on a sled with a control stick in the middle-push it forward to go fast and pushback to slow down. For a second I thought they were not going to let us go on but Peter said a few words and it was okay. I asked him what the trouble was and he didn't like to say so I said, "Is it because we are old?". And he admitted that was it. Then he explained that Chinese grandmothers would not do this because it would be undignified! I don't know if this is the whole truth. They probably thought I would crash the thing.

It was really fun and we loved it. I went first and the only problem was I caught up to the people in front so had to really slow down. There were about six people all stuck behind someone who is really slow. Dad-I thought it was terrific too. For the first part, I was sitting too far back and went very slowly. Then I move forward and went like a rocket. The staff at the side of the track kept yelling at me to slow down.

Tune in tomorrow to find out about our time in Beijing. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 16, we go to Shanghai. We have been feeling under the weather today so hope we are better tomorrow or we may have to cancel.