The WALL and dinner

Saturday, May 9
Today, the first day of our tour, was a very full day. After a big buffet breakfast in the hotel we headed off to see the Great Wall. Our driver was….crazy. He would put Boston drivers to shame. Zooming down the highway, making his own lane between lanes, honking at cars and hapless cyclists if they get too close. There were some close calls but I had faith that he didn’t want to kill the three Americans he was entrusted with. His driving DID give me an upset stomach, though. We had a special guide today who told us about Beijing as we wove through traffic on our way out of town. Beijing, has a population of 21 million people and it takes 4 hours to drive from one side to the other…without traffic. Most people live in tall apartment blocks and there are many of them.

 At the Great Wall, as can be expected, it was tourist central. Most of the tourists were Chinese but there were many people I heard speaking from England, the U.S., Australia, Europe, and Africa. Our guide told us about the history of this “Wonder of the World” and how it wasn’t just built under one ruler. I couldn’t wait to just go and see how far I could make it. The ascent was STEEP! Those mountains are steep and the wall follows their contour. The soldiers who once patrolled this thing must have been in fantastic shape! It was fun meeting people’s eyes on the slow climb and offer encouragement. There were all ages of people from toddlers to the elderly huffing and puffing and hanging on to the rail. I made it up pretty far. Far enough to leave the majority of the crowd behind and admire the view without them. It is truly an amazing monument when you step back and look at it and reflect upon it. It would probably be more amazing to go to a different, less traveled location to get onto it because there were just too many people and, sadly, the trash they left behind was a distraction from the Wall’s grandeur. But, I can now check “climbing the Great Wall of China” off my bucket list!

A steep ascent

 On the way back to Beijing we stopped at a famous spot where 13 emperors were buried surrounded by mountains. We also stopped at a cloisonné making factory which was touristy but interesting to see how they made the craft.

Cloisonne Production

Back in Beijing we were invited out to dinner by a friend of the Director of the Chinese program and her 17 year old son. Along with our guide, Luo Ling, we all went to a large traditional food restaurant and had a center table in front of a stage. I was still feeling queasy from the van ride but the amazing food just kept coming and I had to eat.  Chinese food in China is nothing like Chinese food in the States. This is something my students always say! It is so tasty here and every dish is light so you can keep trying more. Not a lot of heavy sauces or deep fries. Many wonderful soups that eased my stomach. During dinner we were entertained by a variety show. Wow. They need to make these popular in the U.S. Everything from traditional Chinese dancing and instrument playing, to magic tricks! Our hosts were so kind, too, even giving a beautiful silk scarf to each of us at the end of the meal. It’s so nice to be appreciated by strangers!

Tomorrow, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City!

Our Dinner hosts (Luo Ling on right)

Dinner Entertainment

Dinner Entertainment

Entertainer with 3 Teachers