Chopsticks Times 6: Day 2 The Great Wall

Friday, January 25, 2019

Day 2 The Great Wall

This is the part of the trip Mom had been waiting for. She has always wanted to see the Great Wall. She didn't know the upward hike to get to the cable car that gets you to the Great Wall was quite so long and steep, but she made it :)

Yeah!

We had a very caring guide. Most of the time he drives people to the wall and says call when you are ready to leave, but he was worried about Mom and all the steps. He stayed with her and helped her all along the way.

Me and Mom

Me and Xiao Jun

I was impressed that Mom walked as much of it as she did. It goes on forever...it's hard to capture in a picture.

Coming back down on the cable car...Mom and my friend thought it was much scarier than going up.

At the bottom, we were greeted by a slew of cats and their own tiny wall ;)

I guess this is what happens when you have a refrigerator outside....all of the drinks freeze.

After the wall, we came back to see the Summer Palace. I've seen it before. It's beautiful in the spring and summer. The winter definitely had a unique view...still pretty and relaxing, but a very different place compared to the first visit.

The emperor paid artists to paint scenes from the south on all the beams so as you walk though the gardens, you could see all of the beauty from all over China.

I like the details in the stonework.

The lake inside the palace had begun to freeze over.

a lovely sunset

dinner that night.

It was quite interesting. We wanted to try several new dishes and when all of our food came, it was all ice cold. Apparently that's how you eat many of the dishes there. We asked the waitress to show us the hot dishes on the menu and she pointed to THREE!