Beijing...singing the song on The Wall

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Geo: 39.9732, 116.297

Home again at last after a day that can only be explained with superlatives. If you have not done it already, stake a claim to something seriously special for the next seriously rounded birthday number! Realising the dream after our countdown has given me the most incredible joy.

So now, back to the beginning.

A surprise present from Mac - a beautiful jade green blouse to wear to dinner and a bundle of scratchies that I haven't attacked yet. A card and loot from Aunty Gail and Paul AND a waiver on the plumbing bill (very cute).

I strapped on the Merrills (if you don't have a pair travellers...get some!) and restocked the handbag with essentials (...read toilet paper here!) and joined Mac at the birthday buffet breakfast. Collected the birthday wishes from Michael, Anthony and Mindy and also picked up greetings from JA on WeChat. No Facebook read access in China!

Of course Howard was "right on the dot" for our early 90 minute drive to The Wall.

Excited? YOU BET (well, no bets in China..but you understand what I mean).

As we approached the mountains, there it was in all its majesty - actually the first site I have seen that was EXACTLY as I had imagined. It was like a stone dragon curling its way up to the crest of the mountain.

Howard and our driver rejected a number of car parks and continued towards the top parking area. All of a sudden a dark car charged across the road to block our path. About 6 men surrounded the vehicle and started pulling on the door handles and shouting orders. Eventually our driver unlocked the doors and was man handled out of the car by very aggressive officials waving badges. Howard was taken to the side of the road and his picture was taken a number of times. The driver got back in the car and had to reposition the vehicle in an alley. By this time, two officials in uniforms had joined the "unbirthday" party and the questioning and interrogations began. A uniformed official came to speak with us and indicated that this was a routine Transportation check and a lengthy interview with us took place.....we had to produce our itinerary, account for our movements since being in China and show passports. All answers were recorded and then Wayne had to sign the document to verify the facts he had offered.

It was very unnerving.

After about 30 minutes we were free to leave with Howard but we had to take all of our belongings out of the car. Then they changed their minds and said we could leave the stuff. By the time we were at the base of The Wall, Howard had received another call to say come back and get the stuff because the vehicle was being impounded and the driver detained. OUCH.

Howard had to cut our umbilical cord and let us loose on The Wall.

Mac and I took off to conquer the world- and we left Howard to conquer the officialdom.

We have so many stories from the day....but I am going to let the photos do the talking.

In summary:

1hr 50 mins to climb up
40 minutes to come down
Ridiculously steep
Endless steps with unpredictable riser height
Handrail only on one side
One toilet stop that takes a brave man or woman to use
Chinese people so helpful and courteous - always offering a hand
Sang the song and enjoyed best wishes from Chinese, Egyptians, Californians, the French, School kids from Geelong and England
Smiled all the way
High viz vest was "the bomb" - got me a lot of help
Mac was my shoulder to lean on, my helping hand, my egger-onnera, my BFF....my hero
We did it!

Halfway up this madness Mac says "I wonder what you want to do for your 70th? I hear there is a temple on a mountain in India!" Very funny...not!

And I have to say the day just kept delivering. Howard had solved the "no car, no driver" issue by the time we got back and we had a new car and "Mr Young" as our new driver.

So here are some highlights:

Banquet lunch
A visit to the jade factory (thanks Michael, Anthony and Mindy.....my new earrings are beautiful!)
Tour of the Ming Tomb (OMG there were more stairs)
Peking Duck dinner
Acrobat and Opera show
Birthday Cake from Howard...complete with hat, candles and song

What a day. What a life. And inspired by the inscription of ..."Young Forever......" on my birthday cake....we will do it all again tomorrow.

Today's pedometer reading: 14 290 (with an UP THE STAIRS factor that needs to be added)
Temperature; 28 C

About the internet and connectivity....very slow, limited access to content. I have removed the pictures this morning because nothing has loaded. Will try and post the text and then see if pics can go later. We can read the comments that have been added to the blog...but we can't use the "respond" option ...weird. Go Von, keep the tourists on track. Kathy, yes a little shift in his schedule and Louise...no amount of explanation could have quite prepared us! Happy days to all xoxo.

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Comments

[Aunty Gail]

Hi You Two.......sorry to be late, but we (I mean Paul) has just worked out how to do this thing......Happy, Happy Birthday Love......thought about you all day yesterday knowing that you would be having a wonderful experience......and still
so much ahead of you.....just loving your stories.....bringing back so many fantastic memories for us.......love & hugs, Aunty Gail & Paul.......xoxoxoxoxo

[Liz McPhee]

Loving reading of your adventures. Reliving the moments from our journeys, so much fun even if we're not there. Sounds like you're having the best time and a simply amazing birthday. Forgot you can't get Facebook, so my birthday message
can be read in May. No comments on those great toilets, and did you use your special little 'handy traveller' (I'm being discreet) yet? Thanks for all the wonderful detail, keep it up for those of us unlucky enough to still be in Brisbane.

[Helen twist]

Hi Jan, love hearing about your adventures. Brings back such wonderful memories. That is my favourite place in the world. Sounds like the birthday was certainly full of surprises both good and scary. Glad all worked out well and you tic
ked one more thing off the bucket list. Can't wait to hear all of the stories when you get home. Keep enjoying. Xxxxx

[Denise]

What an adventure. You did it. So proud of you and your Merrells.

[Fiona]

Now that is an exciting Birthday, you certainly earnt your peking duck dinner!