Our first stop up the wall we went up to the third tower.  I made it almost to the third and had to stop!  It was freezing and so windy!!!!

To show you the distance between towers and it was a long way up to the first tower.

Steve helping me down as  I was like a runnaway train from the wind!

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House we visited.  Much bigger than in Dalian this is half the room

Women who owned the house

The impressive stairway at the Great Hall (Steve found the elevator for me)

Olympic Torch tower

 The Great Wall 
Beijing, Friday , March 23, 2012. 

We had a 6:30 wake up call as we needed to be ready for 8:30 pick up.  It is cold but beautiful blue sky and sunny today first time we have seen the sun since before hong kong .  They had a lovely buffet breakfast and then we donned our silk long johns, socks, jackets ,gloves, hats and scarves and met our guide Steve in the lobby.  

We are being driven around in a VW Passat and there is a lot of room in the back for our legs.  It is nice and comfortable.  We headed out and sat in New York Rush hour traffic.  Steve explained all about the wall as we drove and pointed things out.  It is only like 70 km but takes over an hour due to traffic.  Before  long we could see part of the wall as our excitement grew.  We were dropped off by a hotel/gift shop to use the rest rooms.  Long line and by the time we came out the buses that left 1/2 hour before us arrived.  We started to climb and it was very windy and steep.  I made it to the first watch tower and was gasping but I rested and we headed to the next one.  I got 3/4 of the way up and just ran out of steam but I went further than a lot of the people so it was great.  Bill continued up and thank God Steve was going to help me to the first watch tower.  The wind now was at my back and sooooooo strong I was like a run away train he had to grab on to me and hold on tight.  I later learned our friend Joe, fell and broke his arm so I am so thankful for Steve.  I had to stand in the corner and wait it was so windy. 

I was so proud of myself. I DID IT!!!!!!!  Bill  said  he almost went flying down also it was so windy.  It was a long walk down steps, hills and whatnot.  When we got down we went into the store and I was so exhausted I didn't even look.  Bill got a coffee and I sat.  We had our picture taken at the wall and it was put into a book for us and while Bill had coffee Steve went and got our book.  All too soon we were back in the car and headed away from the wall.  Oh I want to come back when it is warmer!  

We were taken for lunch in a small private room where the people who had the private tours were.  Regis and his wife Joy sat across from us and she asked me what we were eating and if it was good.  Today the food was great.  We had a beef soup that was really good.  Chicken with veggies and a brown sauce, fried tofu didn't like that, fried rice, vegetables with a clear sauce kinda like chow mien sauce fruit and a desser that looked like French toast but tasted different it was good.  There were two other dishes but had shrimp so we didnt have it.  Great lunch and there was a whole floor of jade products.... Very expensive boarded our car and we headed to theOlympic  village we got out and walked around a little  as our driver had to circle the block.  We then went to old town and you can not ride through with cars as the streets are so narrow so we each got on a rickshaw and had a tour through the neighborhood around the lake.  Thank goodness they had blankets it was quite cold.  We stopped and went into a private house that the women said her great grandfather bought.  There was a courtyard and what looked like the same house was actually 3 other 3 room homes.  Her children live in the others and there is a common bathroom!  Lovely lady but I never saw so many anniamls.  She had a dog, there were pigeons, crickets, cats, birds you name it.  Bill noticed trophies on the piano and asked her about them it seems the pigeons won them!  After this we made a stop at the silk market.  I actually only bought myself a doll as there was sooooo much stuff  it was overwhelming .  Plus how do I get all this crap home!  We headed back to the hotel and had an 1 and 1/2 hour turn around time until our dinner and performance at the Great hall of the people.

Wow what a place it is amazing.  Steve found the elevator as the flight of steps up was impressive.  We got a table front and center.  The menu was great and the shrimp and scallops looked awesome.  The Kung pao turkey was spicy but everything was very good.  

The entertainment was fabulous the orchestra played while we ate and as soon as we finished an opera singer sang then a man sang and then they did a duet.  Next came the young girls dancing.  It was so cool.  Then came a traditional dance and after all that the little girls came out they were so adorable but the best was the young boys and adult men who did the Kung fu.  As soon as the last performer left the stage there was Steve to take my arm and get us down to the car.  Our driver was waiting on the steps to help me down into the car and while they were loading buses we were on our way and back to the hotel .  Steve suggested that we check out tonight as all 300 world cruisers will be checking out tomorrow.  That done we just have to drop the key at the desk on our way out....

Tomorrow the temple of heaven then the 2 1/2 hr trip back to the port.

Beijing looks like Vegas at night all lit up.  Bill just came up from the cigar lounge and said good thing we checked out when we did there was a huge line already tonight.

Olympic Torch

Cube (Swimming pool)

Us in the Rickshaw  They took us all around old town Beijing around a lake and we had a visit to a private house.

This day has been unbelievable.  Another goal I get to check off my bucket list and I can't wait to see Dr. Lacognata to thank him for my new hip so that I was able to walk.  I am ready to collapse but I am like the energizer bunny and will keep going!