We made it to the Great Wall!
NOTE - we are having internet issues at our current hotel and when loading pictures to add more to Day one we lost the page and were only able to load a few photos from today. Hopefully in Changchun we will have better luck. Below is what I was able to load before I got disconnected again. Very few places have WiFi so we are forced to use the land line to connect to the internet in the hotel room.
Here is where we will be climbing to.
We had a mix of stairs and steep slopes sometimes as much as 30 degrees! You felt like you were walking with your face only a few feet from the ground in front of you. We made sure to take some stops along the way to rest for the next climb. We really had a workout today!
It was just as hard coming down since the stones were so smooth everyone slipped at one point but it was all worth it. According to our guide when we got back down we were all heroes.
QUICK FACT - Legend has it that if you climb the Great Wall you become a "Hero of China" and will have good luck!
As promised Sabres Fans are everywhere!
We had a great lunch at a restaurant which is located directly over a shop that specializes in hand crafted copper vases. Here is a group photo in front of the largest vase that costs a mere $378,000 to buy!
Next we went to the Summer Palace - you enter a series of small courtyards to see where the Emperor would entertain guests and diplomats. But you didn't get the full impact until you exited the entrance compound and entered the actual palace. Even the entrance was tiny (complete with Guard Lions).
Here is what the real palace looked like once you got past the entrance way! There were separate compounds for the Emperor, the Emperor's wife and all the soldiers and servants.
The Emperor had a special corridor made to connect his residence with his wife's residence that is the longest corridor in the world.
That is our tour guide, James, carrying the white flag with green letters (Lake Shore colors) so we wouldn't lose him in the crowds.
QUICK FACT - this corridor has 14,000 total pictures in the rafters and beams that all celebrate Chinese culture and history.
I am running into more internet issues (that last picture took 20 minutes to load) so I will leave you with the messages. Hopefully in Changchun I can get a more reliable connection and reload day one and add more photos.
MESSAGES – All the walking today really wiped us out plus The Great Wall was a tough climb so after 12 a hour day some students that closed their eyes for a few minutes are down for the count and snoring away. We will add their messages in the morning.
Carley - China is really cool. I loved the summer palace, it was so pretty. Mom, Regan, Peyton and Aubrey I miss you guys so much and I really love you all. I also love the fact that people here come up to us and ask to take pictures with us. We're like rock stars. It's pretty cool. Love Ya!
(Mr Barnes - I would like to add that Carley was constantly getting her photo taken by complete strangers at the Great Wall, the Summer Palace and the Olympic Venue - you would have thought she was a famous rock star!)
Kenzie - I learned something new today - traffic lights are different in China.
Green = go faster
Yellow= try your best
and
Red= go for it and God bless you.
Well anyway we climbed the Great Wall today. It was tiring but totally worth it!!!!! Love and miss you guys!
Taylor – Will have to wait until the morning as she is sound asleep
Joelle – Will have to wait until the morning as she is sound asleep too
Calista - We went on a dragon boat and we went on the Great Wall of China. For dinner we ate Peking Duck. Mrs Clark had one issue - her heating pad overheated and she almost caught on fire. I had a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TJ - I scaled the Great Wall of China....score!!!!!!!!!!! The food was excellent and an interesting change. Mrs Clark jumped when she noticed smoke coming from her pants because her heating pad over heated! I am beat and will sleep while you celebrate a joyful, wonderful Easter Break:)
And thank you Mom for my Easter Basket!
The Clarks
Too tired to write - will post later
Mr Barnes
I finally made it to the Great Wall. It was awesome! I even got my picture taken with the greatest Sabre Jersey ever - Tim Horton! The climb was tough on the knees and calf muscles and I had to use my inhaler a few times. At least I got my exercise for the day and then some. It was a cool way to spend Easter Sunday climbing the Great Wall. I will try to add more photos and maybe some video within the next two days. Tomorrow we visit the Forbidden City and then take a flight at night to Changchun. Not sure when I will have access to the internet again but will try to fix page one and add more photos.
