The Great Wall

---

Nicky: There are parts of my body that are aching where I didnt know I had muscles right now but we have just got back from walking the Great Wall. We had to get up quite early as the mini bus left our hostel at 7.30am, we had organised the tour through the hostel because it took us to an unrestored non-touristy bit which was definately the right thing to do. On our way to our walk we drove past the tourist sight and it was already really busy and full of stalls and sellers. We arrived at 'our bit' of the wall and it was literally ruins, covered in brambles and grass but stunningly beautiful. It is just mind boggling how the people who built it got all that stone up the hills never mind actually building it into something!! We had a local man as a guide who spoke no english but was great because he knew all the little routes- we didnt really need anyone telling us what the wall was for either, the guidebooks can fill you in with that!! The climb lasted three hours and in parts was really hard work. I was on my hands and knees climbing up some ruined steps at one point and the descent down was really hard work on your legs but the views from the top were stunning. You can see for miles over the tops of the chinese hills and you can see the rest of the wall snaking away in the distance. It is certainly very imposing! After our climb - which got really cold right at the top becuase of the wind - we went for lunch in the local village. It was a proper chinese feast with rice, noodles and eight veggie dishes including spinach and beans, celery and chillies and tofu. Everyone on the mini bus fell asleep at some point during the two hour ride home because we were so worn out but it was a great way to see such an impressive site. We are trying to find a way out of Bejing today hopefully for tomo night so we can start to see a bit more of china instead of just heading straight back down to Shanghai but will keep you updated. Hope everyone is well, lots of love N & N xx

---