Beijing Tours - Day 2

Saturday (in China, Friday in Minnesota) we did day 2 of Chinese culture in Beijing. Our destinations for the day were Jade factory and shop, The Great Wall of China, 2008 Beijing Olympic Park, and we ended the day with an acrobat show. It was another great day of touring and enjoying Beijing with it's rich history. It was a very hot and hazy day so climbing the wall was great workout. I earned my slice of pizza and some ice cream for supper after climbing thousands of stairs on the Great Wall. George (our CCAI rep) told us that while we are climbing the wall to think about the people that actually built the wall and carrying the bricks while climbing. I cannot imagine what hard work that was. Here are some pictures from our adventures.

This entire ship is made from Jade. Yep, a little out of my price range, "we can ship it to your house" is what the saleslady told me. Ha!

More Jade statues

A neat little ball that represents family with is several different generations represented by each middle section and cannot be divided

The section of the Great Wall we walked (or should I say climbed). George says that if you climb this section you are a hero in the eyes of the Chinese. : ) We are Chinese heroes now. Ha, ha!!

Dave, this picture is for you!!! There must have been a group from Purdue at the Great Wall : )

That is what we are about to climb

o.k. made it through one little section, not doing too bad!

O.k. we are getting kind of warm climbing stairs

Yeah, I think this picture is out of order. This is at the beginning of our ascent of the Great (Uneven stepping stone) Wall of China (Seriously, some steps are one block thick, some are two, some were even 3 blocks think). And, I think I look pregnant in this picture, but it is the passport holder thingy under my shirt that is bulging out. : )

Getting pretty high now!

Now it is time to go down. My legs were shaking going down.

This little boy was such a trooper. I followed him on the way down and he just kept stepping down even when it came to the really narrow parts.

Another side of the Wall

Time for lunch! Seriously George, this looks disgusting! Thanks for ordering for us, but no thanks!

O.k. George, you redeemed yourself. Thanks for the fries! : )

Heading to Beijing Olympic Park. Can you say SMOG!!?? Isn't this building funny looking? On the other side are three regular sized buildings next to it. George said when you look at it from the other side it looks like a dragon. They are hotels that hosted Olympic workers, athletes, tourists, etc.

Entrance

In front of the water cube

The Bird's Nest

Acrobat show

Beautiful ladies in the show

It was a fun and exhasting day! Once we arrived back at our hotel, we freshened up a little and went for some pizza at a pizzaria across the street from our hotel with another couple in our travel group. Let me tell you how scary walking around Beijing is. There are just tons and tons of people and cars everywhere. You have to watch your every step because cars do not slow down for you. So just crossing a busy street is an adventure in itself. We were wiped out and went to bed early and had a good night of sound sleep. One more day and we will be with our little Lucy. I cannot believe it!