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Published: September 26th 2010
Great Wall
You can see it snaking up the mountainHi all, I've made it and loving it. Spent my first full day here climbing the Great Wall and I can attest, it is one Great Wall. I'm not sure which part was tougher, the climbs up or the climbs down. It has some incredibly steep sections and you're either gripping the hand rails up or two-fisting them down. I practically slipped out of my shoes many times. But I didn't fall, for those of you who know my lack of grace, that would have ended up in definite road rash and possibly something broken.
It's a pretty awesome sight, though. It always amazes me what people can build and what was built in a time of labour only methodolgy. I decided to go on the Friday because they say that it's incredibly crowded on the weekends, I find it hard to believe it could have been more crowded than it was. I'm sure they could fit more people on that wall if they had to. By the way, it is day two after my Great Wall climb and my calves and quadricep muscles are still crampy. Nothing like that to make a person realize, 'I need to be in
better shape!' Still, a super cool site and would do it again, maybe not immediately, but would definitely go again.
Day two was spent at the Forbidden City and that was pretty phenominal. First off, it's huge, I guess the city part should have tipped me off. But until you're inside, there's no way of knowing just how gigantic it is. A person almost feels like you've stepped back in time when you're inside, seeing the buildings, the architecture, the detail, everything. And that they've preserved it is so great, something for others to come and see. There were scarce times where I actually found myself alone inside one of the courtyards (there are A LOT of courtyards) and you could almost feel like you were back in time, to that time. But I would either have had to been a concubine, a unich or the empress, I don't think I was dressed for any of those positions. But it truly is one amazing place. This is one place on my list ever since I saw "The Last Emperor", and it exceeded my expectations.
After the Forbidden City, I meandered off to Tiananmen Square, it's directly south of
Great Wall
Lots of people all there to do the same thing, wondering why we're climbing this in the heat of the day! the Forbidden City and again, that is one big place! Nothing ever done to small scale here. Not much to see here, just lots and lots of people and you can gaze upon the south side of the City.
By that time, my calves and quads were about done so I walked back to my guesthouse, at least an hour walk but you see some of the most interesting things on foot.
Okay, that's it for now, I'll post pics so you can see some of what I've seen so far.
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MICHELLE
non-member comment
NICE
NICE TO SEE PICS OF YOU, IT COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE POSTING ON YOUR BLOG...LOL MISS YOU !!!