Asia

Our van driver was picking us up at 7:00 this morning so once again our night was short.

We had checked the weather for today and knew that it was to be perfect. It was not too windy, sunny and great temperatures. It actually was warmer than expected. We had been told we’d need a jacket in the morning but that was not so.

The Simatai section is 120 kilometers northeast of urban Beijing. We didn’t want to walk where the crowds are near town. This section is called a “wild” wall in that some of it has not been renovated and is crumbling making it a little difficult at times but it actually is one of the best preserved sections of the Great Wall. We started in Jinshanling and exited at Simatai. This section was first built in 1368, the first year during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty. We were told our walk would be 10.5 K but with all the ups and downs we traveled it seemed greater than that.

We actually started hiking at 10 a.m. and arrived at Simatai about 3:00 pm. Some of the staircases were grueling. The hardest section was the very beginning. It took a little bit to get everything warmed up and working after sitting in the car. We also laughed that we didn’t plan this too well. We had just spent a day in Hong Kong was the stairs up and down through the center of the city for hours and our calves were already sore!!!! It may be a challenge tomorrow!!

We climbed through about 27 towers today. The locals walking along with us would tell us at each tower what the name of it was or what number it was. They kept pointing ahead telling us which one was halfway!!! Tower 14 was the halfway point and they weren't supposed to walk with us past that. We had to buy another ticket at that point to continue so I guess they couldn't go through.

We would hike up to a tower and cool off in the shade and try to catch a breeze coming through the openings and then hike down the mountain and back up to the next tower. The views were breath-taking. We were just in awe all day that we were actually here!! We had been warned that the local Mongolian farmers would follow us along. They don’t speak English well but they are hoping to “assist” you and then sell you something. They hike along with you and carry books, t-shirts, postcards etc. In the towers others are staked out to sell you cokes, water or cookies in case you did not come prepared. I can’t imagine hiking this and toting stuff every day!! One just wonders how in the world this wall was built of these huge stones in 1368!!! It is certainly a “wonder” of the world!! I think this was a huge highlight for all of us. Somewhere along the way we saw the Chinese saying. “One who fails to reach the Great Wall would not be regarded as a hero.” We didn’t feel like heros but we did have a feeling of satisfaction about making the hike and certainly were thankful to arrive at the ending destination. It will take us all a little to recover!

It was after six when we arrived back at the hotel. Much of the way was on the same roads but on the outside of Beijing we took a toll road in. It was amazing to us that there were so few cars on this obviously new and beautiful highway. We were heading to the Olympic Games site. We saw construction along our entire route today. It is very evident how much is happening to get ready for the 2008 games. They still have a lot to do!! The facility they are building called the “nest” is unbelievable architecture and the swimming area was too. Nothing like anything we’ve seen. It will be fun to see this later when it’s completed. There are beautiful beds of flowers all over Beijing. We’ve seen thousands of new trees planted. What was interesting today was seeing totally empty river beds. It appeared they were doing construction in them… maybe using dirt from them… we couldn’t ever figure it out.

Tonight we left the evening for all to do as they pleased. NO PLAN… Eat, swim, clean up…RELAX … in any order. The pool here is the most beautiful any of us have seen. It is downstairs and the whole floor looks like the tropics. The pool is gigantic and winds all around. There are two hot tub areas off to one side and you go through a waterfall to get to one of them. There are gigantic columns to the high ceiling and a fountain in the middle of the pool. The sauna and whirlpool areas in the dressing rooms are beautiful as well.