Friday, October 31, 2008

2,490

Any guess what that number stands for?
a. Was it the number of dumplings Danny ate while we were in China?
b. The number of grams we added to our weight?
c. The number of kilometers we traveled in China?
d. The number of KFC restaurants we have seen here?
e. The number of steps we took to get to the top of the GREAT WALL OF CHINA!!!

This was a sight to behold. We are so glad to have this happen to us on our very last day here. It has been such a long and adventurous trip, but we have been anticipating this day from the beginning. I mentioned it was a beautiful autumn day. The sky was blue, the air was crisp, and the colors of leaves were turning all the shades of fall.

This is an inscription that says, "He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man" I am glad we can BOTH say, we are true men...especially since I beat Danny on the way up.


This was the beginning when the steps were small and even...This did not last for long. I think they got more careless and tired and the steps started becoming so high that my short legs could barely get up them!




Just when you think you are close to the top, the wall turns to the right and keeps going up!

I couldn't believe that after a half hour of hiking, there were tables set up with people selling their souvenirs...Can you imagine that commute each day. We were sweating and huffing and puffing. We could tell the air was a bit more thin. We were so high up in the mountain at this point. The view back down was incredible. You could see Beijing skyline which is 45 miles away! Look how steep it is. I cannot imagine being the poor men who built this wall.


And then, you finally get to the top, and inside the tower you see this stair case:


Each step was about 18 inches apart and kind of sagging in the middle. It was a bit perilous.

Here is the view of the loop from the top of our side of the mountain. It goes down across the valley and the water and up the other side, just not as high.


Here we are back down the the beginning. We got up to the 8th tower..I don't know if you can even see it from the view. Going back down was a bit easier but my knees were killing me, and Danny's legs were shaking like jello.



Tonight we had to go get massages so our legs wouldn't feel so cramped up while sitting in a small airplane seat for 13 hours! What a fantastic experience. Never would we have believed we would be at such a world famous wonder. I remember seeing pictures (or slide shows..groan) when I was younger of my Grandma Pett in China. I always thought it was so amazing that she got to travel to so many wonderful places, never thinking I would be there one day too!

It is hard to describe what this trip has been like for us. Through the wonderful technology of the blog world, we are so glad so many of our friends and family could share it with us. It has meant even more to us because of that. Also, spending 2 1/2 weeks together as a couple, celebrating our 12 years of marriage, has been magical. Thanks to great parents that would take our children, and especially to Mr. Cyrus Tang who made our wildest dreams come true!

5 comments:

Amy said...

Beautiful! Congratulations on making it to one of the 7 wonders of the world! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about all your adventures the past two weeks. It makes me want to plan a trip for myself. I'm so glad you got to do this! And now, with all those frequent flyer miles we should go on another adventure together! Greece, perhaps!

Can't wait to talk to you when you get home! Fly safe, don't forget to do your plies in the bathroom stall - no blood clots!!!

. said...

I too have enjoyed reading about your adventures. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your experience from Las Vegas. It looks like you had a wonderful time. Can't wait to get back to boot camp!!

Karen said...

I am so inspired by your trip. FABULOUS! I am so glad you had an awesome and adventerous time. Can't wait to hear more about it when you come home.

Marci Morgan said...

How wonderful! Your trip looks like it was so amazing. It makes me want to take a trip with Dave. I have to admit, I am VERY excited to have you back and to have my running partner again!! I can't wait to hear all of your adventures on our runs!!

Perry Family said...

LOVE all your posts from your amazing trip...especially this one. I'm fascinated with the Great Wall, and 100% jealous you guys got to go!! So cool!!! At least now I can say I've seen it through you :) Hope you have a safe trip back and I'm sure your view of the world is a little different now!

Disneyland

Danny and Friends Mountain Biking