Thursday March 15 - The Great Wall

I'm a little later posting tonight as the tailor arrived at 8:00 pm with all the new dresses and jackets! Believe me, the excitement vibrating through the hotel hallways could definitely be heard as one girl after another tried on their custom fitted outfits - aqua and silver, turquoise and pink, gold and black and red and royal blue. They were all gorgeous. And the jackets and dresses that some of the moms ordered were no less beautiful. Unfortunately, it was so late that we were hurrying our girls into bed so don't have any pictures yet, but will definitely post some tomorrow.

Back-tracking to the rest of our day, we headed out at 8:30 to visit a Jade Factory located on the way to the Badaling section of the Great Wall. Many beautiful items there for sale and some of our group purchased various trinkets while others were more focused on the next stop on our journey. Cassidy and Bryanna liked the largest jade pieces placed on display!



After the short stop at the factory, we continued on. It is about an hour's drive from our hotel to the mountains outside of Beijing where we were headed. The day was quite mild, eventually reaching about 50 degrees F, but we knew it would be colder up on the wall and dressed accordingly.

We had also heard from an earlier group that the cable cars that we were to take to the top of the wall at Badaling were quite frightening when experienced in high winds. Of course, that didn't put off the children at all, but a number of the adults who are not thrilled with heights were worried. In the end, only 2 of our group chose not to accompany us and up we trooped to the cable car ramp. For some reason, all the children were sent through the narrow turnstiles first with the adults following behind. When we reached the top of the ramp we called to them to stop while we waited for our guide, Ma Rui, to join us. Not knowing how things would progress, a number of parents were calling out instructions: "stay seated in the car", "no jumping around", "watch out for each other". Suddenly all of the children rushed forward around a bend where we couldn't see them and a huge shout went out from all the parents.



Then we heard, "It's okay, Ma Rui is here!" and we all relaxed - it's amazing how much confidence we have in our slim, quiet-spoken guide. And yes, she had gone ahead and was waiting at the cable cars to organize the kids back with their families and translate instructions from the cable car attendants.

The adult Thompsons were in one car with our Bryanna and Laura Presley (Cassidy, surprisingly, had chosen to join another family who has one of the oldest girls in our group - no concern or hesitation at all!). The cars rose slowly and smoothly from the building and into the air. As we ascended into the rocky hills, the parking lot and buildings and vendors were left behind and it became very quiet except for the excited talking between Bryanna and Laura. And we all (especially Florence!) breathed a sigh of relief. No wind to speak of, no rocking cable cars, no frightening aspects at all - in fact, we think the kids were a little disappointed. hee hee.



We reached the top, and Ma Rui distributed our tickets for the return ride so that everyone could explore and return when they were ready. We headed up the path to join the section of the Great Wall that snaked along the top of the high ridge. Cassidy was still feeling the effects of her cold and was a little tired, but she joined her sister in climbing the uneven steps of the Wall to the watch tower farther along the ridge above us. When we reached it, we took the time to look down the dizzying steps to the place where we had exited the cable cars and then turned and looked the opposite way to where the Wall dipped and rose and travelled far from us until it disappeared in the haze.





All the families took time to stop and take in the beauty of this wonder of the world. (Despite three trips to China, I still love it and hope one day - when the girls are older - to travel further along it.)

Here are some of our friends!



We headed back down the mountain, and avoided where possible the aggressive approach of some of the vendors (beware the camel owner in the parking lot - yes, I said camel - he wouldn't even allow pictures to be taken of the animal without payment).

Then off to lunch at the Friendship Store that so many groups have visited on their trips to China. Cassidy was delighted to not only be given a special booster seat at the table (elegant enough for a little empress) but to finally have the noodles she loves served!



After a quick half hour of shopping (Gail G., you would be pleased to know that Helen and Marianne did you proud!) and ice cream purchased as we exited, we headed back on the bus and home to our hotel. We all finished the day in various ways...swimming, reading, going for a walk, chatting with friends before heading out for dinner and then back to the hotel to wait for the dresses.

A very good day! Tomorrow is kite making and flying and then the famous Beijing Opera in the evening...Nanny and Lianne and Bryanna will go to that while papa stays with Cassidy as it is too late for her. She is feeling much better, though, which I am pleased about.



See you tomorrow!