November
2009
    November 14
     Zoe, Beth and Shari will visit the Great Wall
    and the Temple of Heaven
Nov 14, 5:30pm  (China time)

This was the 3rd time I was at the Great Wall, each time has been at
Mutianyu section.  I was actually a bit concerned about going up in the cable
lift and down the toboggan slide as it was freezing!  It was about 19 degrees
with windchill.  But before I could even mention my concern, John (our driver,
the same one from last time), suggested there was an enclosed cable car.  

That was awesome!  First of all, it was warm.  But secondly, it took us to a
completely different section of the wall.  It was a lot easier to climb than the
usual route we take (which is great since we have a 4 year old with short legs
and I was picturing me lugging her around).  But she did AWESOME!  The
great wall was covered in snow and ice and there are parts that are quite
slippery.  But Zoe took to the wall like she'd been there a million times.  She
would go around the corner and just kinda "sense" her way through the
tunnel sections.  I wonder if there is something to that.  

So far, only a few people have actually taken her or my picture.  Lots of
pointing, and even touching her.  (So far, she is unbothered by it thankfully!)
And they are saying very kind things to and about her.  

After the wall, we made our way to a local restaurant - very popular with
locals.  Good food and very inexpensive.  (But alas, it's about 4 hours later
and I'm not feeling 100%.  We all ate the same things and thankfully I'm the
only one with an issue.  So I'm hoping it's just my overly sensitive stomach
and I'll be better in no time.)  

After the lunch, we went to the Temple of Heaven.  Quite impressive as it's
made with no nails.  It's beautiful architecture ... it was just so stinkin' cold.  
Even Shari (who is from Denver) was cold, not just us Florida girls! :)  But the
whole time I was there, I kept thinking how all this space and money and
effort was spent so ONE guy could worship God. I'm so thankful I can go to
Him any time, any place.  But I digress.  

Then we drove back to the hotel.  We left Shari and Zoe at the hotel as John
and I went to a local post office to deliver the 3 HUGE boxes we've been
lugging.  And true to Chinese form ... it couldn't be done the easy way.  
These boxes were the type we ship in all the time in the States.  It was nicely
boxed and taped.  It was nicely addressed in Chinese.  But no.  That was too
easy.  We had to buy bags to put the things in.  Took 5 of them.  Each one
was 15 yuan.  Then we had to refill those.  John had to copy (by hand) the
chinese address (LONG) 5 times!  Then when his hand was nicely cramping,
they told him he then had to do 5 labels.  So he had to do the same thing all
over again.  etc etc.  By the end, it was about an hour process when it
should have been 3 minutes.  (sigh).  I really owe John BIG!!!

Tonight we're packing up our luggage and we'll be checking out of our hotel
in the morning.  We'll go to a few siteseeing places and then to New Day
foster home south of Beijing.  

Feel free to drop us a line.  goredan@hotmail.com  I'd love to hear from you.
 I feel very out of touch since I can't get up facebook OR any of my yahoo
boards.  

Beth
Beth will also be
blogging at
destinyshousechurch
.blogspot.com


    Thanks for joining us on this
    journey!  Should prove to be
    an interesting one.  
To go back to
the itinerary
page,
click HERE
NOT a mirage! This is actually
SUNSHINE in Beijing!!