When the alarm went off at 7:00 a.m., I jumped out of bed, showered, tried calling Bootsie (aka Paul) and headed downstairs for my Ho Jo breakfast. At 8:30 Leo was in the lobby and ready to go!! First stop, the Cloisinne Ware Factory. As you can see from the pictures, these beautiful pieces of art are made in Beijing. My parents had brought me back a vase several years ago when they were visiting China. The colors are vibrant and I learned that many of the vases, plates, etc... have the Country's flower - peony - on them. Also two magpie birds. When asked what their state bird was, Leo did not know, but thought might be the magpie?? The state fruit is the peach because it brings happiness. Just a little trivia for those Cliff Clavin's of the world!
Well, I couldn't get out of the factory without buying a couple of things, but I was pleased with what I purchased and thought I could squeeze them into my suitcase without too much problem.
Next stop, the Great Wall. We drove about an hour out of the city to the mountains to the Badaling area. The Great Wall is over 2000 years old and was built to keep the people from the north (Mongolians) from entering and taking over the country. The wall was magnificent!!!!!!!!!!!! Truly unbelievable!!!!!!! I was awed beyond words and took a lot of pictures. The place was packed with tourists from all over!! I had my picture taken more on this day than my wedding day!! Everyone wanted their picture taken with me, more so than in any other place in China. I posed with men from Pakistan, women from India, girls from china and a baby from Sweden. They had never seen fair hair and skin with freckles before and they all thought it was wild!! But I had fun too! I walked the Great Wall for several miles and believe you me, it was hard work! The slope was about 45 degrees and it was steeeeeep. The stairs were all uneven, some big, some small. I have walked down the Rocky Mountain National Park mountains numerous times in Estes Park, and this does not even come close to the steepness of hat terrain. Unbelievable!! Awesome and breathtaking!! I just stood their and soaked it in. Amazing!!
Once I found Leo, we headed back down the road to Beijing and stopped at a jade factory and had lunch. Very interesting to see the workers and products. I did buy a little budda just cuz it reminded me of Mike Budka from work!! Hahahaha
Next stop was the Ming Tombs from 13 emperors, the most extensive burial complex of any China dynasty. The site chosen by the same Emperor of the Forbidden City, designated this location for his family. Again, architecture fairly similar and well preserved.
Next was the Beijing Olympic site. I got a chance to see the infamous Bird's Nest. The area was beautiful and still well preserved.
I retuned to my hotel and was exhausted after the days hike!! I didn't want to eat n the hotel restaurant because it was buffet, so after a rest I headed out to a local grocery store for a soup carton of noodles. The grocery store didn't have anything I could identify to eat, except for diet coke. So that is what I bought. On the way back to the hotel I saw a KFC and said no way!! I looked a little closer and the menu was all chinese food (good thing they had pictures), so I went in and ordered chicken and rice. So embarrassed I went to a KFC, but it wasn't bad and fairly cheap!! Beats the $76 buffet in the hotel any day!!
Well, tomorrow is a free day. I think I am going to loaf round, pack my suitcase and relax most of the day. On Friday I am going to meet Drew in the Beijing airport for one last weekend with him. We are flying to Xi'an to see the terracotta warriors and have some good food and laughs before I go home. I am going to miss him, but he is in for a great summer in China!!
Good Night!!
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