Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Steve, Allison, Sean, Megan, Ryan and Katelyn!
June 21, 2008
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined
to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.
-An Ancient Chinese Belief
Today we became "hero's" and climbed the Great Wall...as the sign in our picture illustrates. Sean led the steep climb further up the wall to the second tower, with Steve not far behind and Allison waiting below in the shade. The view from the second tower was incredible, and it seemed to be one of the highest points of the wall within sight (the third tower further up was reachable...but we couldn't imagine the decent). A very steep and narrow stair to the roof of the second tower was worth the additional short climb for a panoramic view of the area (thankfully it was a much more clear day than yesterday). Upon completing the decent, fighting gravity and momentum all the way, Sean was proud and Steve was thirsty.
A moment of disbelief occurred at the base of the second tower...a woman, huffing and puffing from the climb in the humid heat, asked "when does the Great Wall start?". WOW! All of us (at first) were kind in responding that she is on it and has been climbing the wall for the last fifteen minutes or more....she then asked "are you sure about that...how can you tell?" WOW again. Another climber responded (in a Scottish accent) "your accelerated heart rate is proof"...I was thinking of another response, but there were children present.
We also visited the Jade (tourist trap) Factory and bought souvenirs. We had extra time, so we also toured the Lama Temple near the Forbidden City...it is one of the few active Buddhist Temples in the area, and open to the public during restricted hours. This is the location of the tallest Buddha Statue in the world made from a single tree (picture taking was not permitted in the temples).
The day ended with a dinner of Peking Duck and a sunset and night time drive-by tour of the Olympic Village (pictures to be included tomorrow).
Sean Says
I was amazed by the number of steps on the Great Wall. Me and Dad climbed to the second tower, gasping for air, but it was worth it for the incredible view. My right leg was shaking on the way back down. I enjoyed French Fries for lunch in a Chinese Restaurant with western toilets! The smell of the incense at the temple made me dizzy. The Water Cube building at the Olympic Village looked like a bunch of water droplets dripping down a window (pictures to follow tomorrow).
Hero’s at the Great Wall
Allison and Sean in the shade of a great wall tower
