Our journey started on the very crowed Beijing Metro. We couldn't even get into this car and decided to wait for the next train.
Feeling like a sardine in a sardine can.
We met Xiao Wei at a train station about an hour's ride from Beijing. He then drove us the rest of the way through the countryside to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China.
Touristy section...
We took a chairlift to the top.
Xiao Wei, such a dear man. : )
Chairlift over the toboggan run. We've been informed that this is the way down. What fun!
Glimpses of the Great Wall as we went up.
The smog was quite thick and significantly restricted visibility.
It's me! In China! Standing on the Great Wall! Such a dream come true.
It sure was a workout! The word "steep" doesn't seem to cover it!
Not too many people follow directions on signs here in China, so off we went to a section of the wall that hasn't been restored yet.
Hard to see, but that's the wall snaking it's way over the hills.
These vendors were amazing. I found it difficult to get myself up these stairs, and they did it packing all kinds of stuff to sell to the tourists.
Just a little steep.
Snickers packet on the Great Wall. It was sad to see trash everywhere.
Mao hats!
Postcard of what it looks like on a clear day.
After exploring the wall, it was a toboggan ride back down.
"Dotice" to visitors...
I took this to be a sign for meditating instead of 0 meters...I was just about to catapult myself down to the bottom of the Great Wall!
Back through the touristy section and...
into Xiao Wei's car. : )
Xiao Wei then took us to Yunxia Restaurant. He asked us if we were willing to try some truly authentic Chinese cuisine...donkey. I thought, "When in Rome!"
Sid and salted greens.
Here comes the donkey!
Didn't expect bones...
You only live once!
Let's just say I liked the green beans better!
Back in Beijing to our favorite snack place.
We found this place on our first day...
and kept going back for divine massages.
These two blind masseurs were the greatest guys! This guy just kept giggling the whole time he was giving me a massage and kept repeating the only phrases he knew in English, "Hello! Nice to meet you!" He was just adorable.
Dinner at a local hole in the wall...great food!
Relaxing back at the Hutong Inn just in time for...
a huge thunder and lightening storm.
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