The Great Wall

            After our bus driver got us lost multiple times before even making it to the freeway, we finally made it to the Great Wall.  Wow!   That’s really all I can say.  The stone barricade lies on the ridge line of some huge mountains.  We had to take a ski lift up to get to it.  We ended up climbing (climbing, because it really is sooo steep and some parts that you must use yours hands to help push yourself up) all the way to the highest peak that tourist were allowed to go.  Past that, reconstruction was taking place.  The views were spectacular, although there was a considerable amount of smog in the air, which shielded our view from some of the far off mountains.  The smog really comes in and out.

            On our ascent, we met a couple from New Hampshire, Acadia’s home state (small world syndrome), who were in their 70's.  The husband had won a Fulbright Scholarship to teach American History in Shanghai.  They climbed all the way to the top. They were awesome! I hope that when I get that old I will be able to do what they are doing.  They also invited us to see them in Shanghai after our program ended.  To get down the mountain there was a toboggan on a metal track that we rode down; it could get pretty fast but was really awesome and lasted a long time.

            The day before we went to the Olympic area and into the Bird's Nest.  The Water Cube was closed, but will re-open in September and you are allowed to swim in the warm-up pool! Acadia, my fellow swimmer, and I will be taking advantage of that for sure.  Going to the stadium area was really cool, it’s a real tourist attraction, with thousands and thousands of people wandering around. It reminded me of the Salt Lake City Olympic games, and how awesome it was to go.  But besides people taking pictures in the Bird's Nest and walking around the Water Cube, there wasn’t much going on.  I hear most of the facilities are rarely used and driving around some of the lesser stadiums, they were ghost towns with parking lots overgrown with weeds.  The area seemed very underutilized.  Overall, it was pretty cool going to it and I can't wait to swim in the pool.

            I just got out of my first language class and we learned pronunciations. Time for lunch, noodles!