How lucky were we?! We found a street market where the locals had come to stock up with all kinds of food, from veggies to meat. They load it on every type of vehicle from bicycles to motorized bicycles to carts....they then take it out to sell. Target rich environment! After they all went on their way, we walked down to a bridge and into a park. Never enough time!
Mr. Stone picked us up at 10 sharp and we headed for the Hutong or old village. There are a few places left in Beijing, a city of 20 million people, where the locals can still own the land and their humble homes. The rest must rent and after 70 years the government gets the apartments back. They took us through the area by rickshaw with lunch at a local home. Wow was it SMALL! Two families lived in the space so small....two rooms of 10x20 and two more on top. No bathroom. They all use public toilets to shower and do their business. 10¥ for a shower. The food was remarkably good. The man had been a chef for 34 years and it showed. He liked John! A theme that would repeat. People were fascinated by him throughout China.
We left there and headed to the a Summer Palace. I think there was smoke coming out of John's camera! There was a painted hall that was 700 meter long and had 10,000 painted pictures! He shot and shot.Cheri followed suit. Together they really depicted the hall, but upon reflection realized they only scratched the surface!
Reluctantly it was time to leave so we headed to the airport and our final, goodbye to Mr. Stone. The next thing on tap was Chengdu and the Panda Research Center. We were met at the airport by our guide Ping. We made sure she was going to pick us up so we could be with the Panda's by 8:30. She was reluctant, but agreed.
Enjoy!
Cheri & John
So we cajoled the guide and driver into taking us to two parts of the Wall and into picking us up at 7:30. We scavenged for breakfast since it wasn't included in our Marriott points. We ended up with awful coffee and a chocolate croissant for John and a half an egg and ham sandwich for Cheri. Breakfast of Champions...hee hee.
It was a beautiful Saturday and everyone seemed go be out enjoying it so the traffic was heavy. We didn't mind though as we watched the scenery go by. We arrived at JuYong Pass and it took our breath away...literally as we hiked and figuratively as we saw it for the first time!
Being us, there was no way we'd do it part way. As we began to ascend the first section, with all of humanity, thoughts of safety ran through Cheri's mind. Crowed, uneven, multilevel steps....straight up. All it would take was one mis-step by anyone and curtains! I quickly put that out of my head and concentrated on breathing. We made the first gate and turned to see the landscape below. Before we would finish we'd be nearly alone and up some 880 meters! We kept climbing and looking all around to see the scenery. Many images were made! The leaves were turning so there as some color in the trees.
Our guide climbs the wall 3times a week. He was fit as a fiddle and scampered easily up the steps. Of all the guests he sees, we were one of only two guests who ever hiked to the top of that section!
You could really imagine what it must have been like to guard a lonely section of the wall; some 7000 km long. We enjoyed every minute, even the painful ones. Who thought coming down would cause issues? Try doing the stair master for three hours and you'll see! We climbed back down about 11:30 thinking there would be lunch on offer and we were hungry! No such luck. Lunch wouldn't come for 2.5 more hours!
That was part one, now we were off across a mountain road to the next part of the wall; Mutianyu. About halfway there we stopped at Sacred Way. This was where the emperor's came to be buried. Then it was off to Mutianyu. We finally got lunch. Nothing memorable, but filling!
We arrived at the next section of the wall knowing we were going by cable car, and thankful for it. The last climb had sapped most of our strength. Alas, the traffic was heavy so we got pitched out to hike straight up for about half a mile before reaching the cable car! Yikes! And of course, there was a gauntlet of shops selling all kinds of junk. The vendors would call out...$1, $1. Come you look! Cheri bargained and bought a T-Shirt for $5.
The sun was cracking out as we ascended the middle section by cable car. We took more photos and enjoyed the day. After an hour and a half we came down for the long ride back to Beijing.
Being creatures of habit, we decided to head back to the same place for dinner; it was clear Beijing food was just OK, but nothing special. So for 100RMB or a out $16 US. We had two beers and dinner. It was time to get cleaned up! There was a marvelous tub in the room and Cheri decided sore muscles needed a good soak!
Enjoy!
Cheri and John
We awoke on time, showered, had a western breakfast and then met Mr. Stone. He was right on time. The adventure was beginning...we were finally in China! We ha waited such a long time to land on the 7th continent!
As we raced into downtown Beijing, Mr. Stone began to tell us about Beijing and China. His English is excellent and he is a very nice man. We liked him immediately.Soon we arrived at Tienanmen Square. As we walked, he talked. It soon became obvious that we intended go take pictures of everything! We were totally blown away that we seemed to be the only American tourists in the square! It was filled with mostly Chinese tourists from other parts of China.
National Day in China had been earlier in the month and the square was still decorated in flowers from the event. We then crossed under the street through a tunnel and paraded in front of fountains and Chairman Mao. His picture had been recently replaced and was looking fine. We could have stood in line to see his body, but elected to skip that part. The Chinese were flocking at the chance; especially the older people.
From there we headed into the Forbidden City. WOW! I don't think Mr. Stone had ever seen any two people take quite so many pictures. John LOVED the dragons and proceeded to shoot every last one of them...at least we think he did! Mr. Stone told us stories of the Forbidden City and the emperors who lived there. The dragon represents the emperor. The phoenix represents the empress. In the pecking order, the emperor comes first, then the dragon, then the empress, then the phoenix, then the clouds and then the earth. The paintings and stone carvings all showed this in detail. The Chinese meticulously take care of the Forbidden City and each year they re-paint sections so that it looks like it did in the time.
All the emperors, their wives and concubines,and eunuchs lived in the forbidden city. Commoners were not allowed.
After the Forbidden City, it was time for our first meal. Cheri ordered a lamb cumin and John ordered a shrimp dish. Cheri's came first and it was delicious. John nibbled and waited. When his came, we both looked at it and decided that it wasn't going to be eaten....it was small shrimp in shell....no way to eat it with out taking off the shells and they were too small to shell. Oh well. There was enough for two with Cheri's meal and the rice!
Then it was on to Temple Heaven. The clouds had moved in by then, so we wandered through and shot some images, but were getting tired by then. The best part of Temple Heaven was seeing the retired people. Women retire at 55 and men at 60. After that it is common for them to hang out with their friends playing cards, mahjong or Chinese Chess. One old gent was playing a traditional wood wind instrument. We loved that part!
We headed to our hotel. It was a Marriott and boy were the beds good! We decided to walk out and find a place to eat. As we left the hotel it began to rain, so we decided on the place right across the street. It wasn't fancy, but they spoke English, the menu had pictures, and the price was right! Cheri thought poor John was going to starve as he was learning to eat rice with his chop sticks, one piece at a time! Some how he managed! We were both bushed and hit the hay as soon as we got back!
