the one with the great wall

today we got up early, had a good breakfast and started out for the great wall.  it took about an hour, maybe a bit more to get there.  traffic was pretty bad.  and it is amazing to me how the drivers can just read each other's minds.  they weave in and out of each other so smoothly. I tried videoing a bit but by the time I got my camera out it was over.  I am sure there will be more opportunity.

it was amazing, standing there on this immense wall.  it is built on the very ridge of the mountains...what a feat that was to build!  I am in awe at hat it must have been like.

our guide amber is great and so knowledgeable.  and we get to spend our time in beijing with another family from our agency (we don't usually travel in groups) the Garmons!  yay!

I hiked up about two small flights of stairs, then Jordan, Brendan and Megan hiked to the top of the mountain. it was really steep and the stairs are not even, some are short and some are very tall!

this marble pillar is called the heros stone. I guess chairman Mao had it placed at the top and it says something about him being the only one who can climb that high or if you reach it you are as good as him...something to that affect.  anyway, at some point they moved it toward the bottom...but since our three mad it we thought they deserved a picture with it :)

next we went to a fun family style restaurant and had a traditional chinese lunch.  it as very good.  we had rice and noodles and there were different dishes like duck, sweet orange chicken, fried eggplant, tofu, beef and tomato soup, fish, and little bean curd eggrolls (that was the dessert, they are sweet).

after lunch we drove an hour or so back to our hotel and had a short nap (jet lag is catching up) and then out to a Kung Fu show.  It was very cool and more of a play then just doing kung fu.  but brendan says he was tricked because it was a ballet :)  I had no idea! they wouldn't let us take pictures, so I have none :(

anyway, as much fun as we are having, we were well aware today that this is not why we are here.  we almost feel like we are wasting time.  we want our girl and we want to take her home. but we didn't have to come to beijing, we chose to...I want to experience Xiangting's culture, see the things that created who she is.  and though she has never seen the things we are seeing here, these place and events from the past have built the country that is her home...and besides, you can't go halfway around the world and skip these amazing sites.

only 2 more days and we will have a new daughter!  Lord guide our steps!