We cheated a little

Day #5 on the Great Wall

We had a huge discussion (err, fight) in the bus about whether to cave and take the cable car to just near the top (what’s known as Hero’s point) of the Wall. For some of us (me and Tommy) we thought of the car as cheating. You come all this way to have the experience of climbing the Wall. We should CLIMB the Wall! Then the more level-headed members of our group (Luke and Xiaojun) reminded us that we had 7 very tired and little kids to lug with us… we took the cable car. AND it still was a BIG climb.

Our guide impressed strongly upon us about not wanting to hike from the base. We had 2 hours to meet back at the bus. He said we would not make it to the point if we didn’t take the cable car. I really wanted to prove him wrong and didn’t want to fork over the money for the cable ride. Maybe next time.

By the way, you cannot see the Great Wall from the moon.

I was completely miffed when exiting the car (where there was no line on the way up). This was the huge line for the ride back down! Luckily, it was completely cleared when we came back through and we jumped right on and got back to base in 10 minutes.

It was steep! So steep that Miles and Masie needed to hold a hand to not fall backwards. The incline would be a ramp for 10 yards and then steps for 10 yards, but the steps were big, little, big, then little. Very tricky. I carried Lyla up and also grabbed Masie’s hand when Luke started tiring. I’m in pretty great shape, chuckle.

My plan was to use a family photo taken on the Wall for our Christmas cards, but our little children were too jetlagged for smiling. They were troopers though and I couldn’t blame them for not wanting to smile.

Tommy’s kids were all smiles though.

Gorgeous ladies Noel and Xiaojun.

A little dancing at the top and then back down we go.

In the area where the buses parked at base there were little venders selling many things my kids just had to have.

Just in case you forgot what public toilets in China are like.

You could almost see the locals frowning when Xiaojun appeared to haggle for us. She knows how to get a fair price for everything. She got me a great deal on a cute vest, a sword, t-shirts, and umbrellas.

Xiaojun took one (or 4) for the team letting Lyla and Masie drool all over her cute red pants.

Think we’re done with Day #5? Think again! We spent the evening looking at the 2008 Beijing Olympic lights.