Great Wall

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I'm catching up for the past four months of not posting anything, so back we go to September/October, when I was still with my first host family (and when the weather was gloriously warm...)!
Hou Lei took it upon herself to show me the Great Wall SHE thought was interesting, not the one listed in travel books overrun by tourists. Therefore, I don't know the real name of this portion, just that they call it the "wild" Great Wall, and in fact, it was astonishingly unrestored. After scrambling up a wooded path behind her husband, who had an amazing capacity to NEVER run out of breath, we reached the top and could look out across the Greal Wall stretching out across the ridges in both directions. We spent a good five or so hours crawling our way along the crumbling wall, and that night I got my first good night's sleep since I 'd arrived.
Our school also sponsored a trip to the Simatai Great Wall, and practically every foreign student took advantage of the free busride to see it. Honestly, this site, other than it being easier and more convenient to access, has nothing on the "wild" portion, but all in all I'm glad to have seen it to be able to make the comparison.

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Photos

When in China, do as the Koreans
Our Korean classmates will inevitably flash the peace sign when taking pictures (that's part of why we love them so much!) This is Salome and I getting ready to take a zip cord down to the bus.

Clawing Up the Wall
Hou Lei, my first homestay mother, was the
most sturdy little woman I've met in a long time. Here she is, in her element, making her way up the crumbling stairs.

Looking back
The day really was perfect, and I look back on Beijing's "golden" autumn realizing only now why it was such a coveted time. And look carefully, do you see another tourist...anywhere?!

Comments

[Cheryl]

Beautiful!
I'm so glad u went on this trip. It's beautiful!!!