Day 69 Last Day in Beijing

Today we spent our final day in Beijing. We saved the best for last. We visited the great wall after about a hour and a half drive. On the way there we stopped at a cloisonne factory and followed each step in a very elaborate process until we saw the final result. It is a pains taking process that involves six steps each one requiring an artisan to complete. We did buy a vase which will be on display in Montana for all who visit us to see.
Now back to the great wall. We arrived at a small village at the base of a mountain. The great wall runs along the tops of the mountains so up the 1400 steps we went. Upon reaching the top we were treated to one of the wonders of the world. It is hard to imagine how anyone could construct such an edifice with today's equipment much less with the tools available 1000 years ago. The wall snakes its way along the ridge tops from peak to peak. Since it was built for defensive purposes the ridge tops would be the hardest to attack. Even though there was some haze that kept us from seeing it at its best, what we did see was marvelous. The literature says the entire wall was about 5500 kilometers in length. Much of it is in a state of decay. The portion we saw had been refurbished in 1989. It took your breath away to see it wind its way along the mountains. In some of the remote areas we could see there were trees and bushes growing up through path on the top of the wall. Our guide indicated it was wide enough so that eight soldiers could walk shoulder to shoulder.
Tonight we will be on a overnight train from Beijing to Shanghai. Yet another chapter in our adventure. Meanwhile we have checked out of our hotel room and are using a computer loaned to us by the hotel. We will try to post pictures tomorrow.
tomorrow Shanghai.

Chris - As Paul related we finally had a nice enough day to go the the Great Wall. It is awe inspiring and it was almost a perfect day temperature wise to climb the steps. The steps are mostly grouped in 8 or 24 at a time. In China 8 is a lucky number. There was at least one stretch where there were about 100 steps. The steps were even and well spaced and it took about a half hour to climb. It was really a thrill to see the Wall emerge as you turn the corner and it lays out in front of you. It was a very surreal experience and one I wished I could have had the kids along to enjoy. Maybe next time. I can't even imagine how they built the Wall. It rivals how they built the Going to the Sun road in Glacier!
After we got back from there we set out by foot to walk to the old section of Beijing to absorb the feeling of yesteryear. I found the little alleyways and small gray buildings to be more how I imagined Beijing than the metropolitan city with all the high end store that it mostly is today. It's fun to have experienced both sides of Beijing. It's a very interesting city I would like to return to in May when the flowers are blooming. No, not THIS May, but some May.