Day 3 The Great Wall of China

The day was cloudy, foggy and misty so the view of the wall was not real clear. The wall has watchtowers at various points along it. Many of our group ventured to the first tower up the stairs that varied in height, some steps about 18" high, others 6". A few less ventured to the second tower, fewer to the third and fewer

still to the Fourth tower. Along the way you would find people stopped to get their breath and a few sitting on the stairs sure that they were going to die. Five brave souls ventured to the 6th tower. It is said that if you reach the fourth tower that you are a hero (one sister on the other bus coming down looked at me and said "I'm scared!" to which I repeated my friend Tanya's saying "you are not brave unless you are afraid" so this saying of being a hero to climb really is true). It use to be that they would give you a plaque saying that you had climbed it. Now you have to pay for it and you could even get one at the bottom (the pressure of capitalism and laziness).

Two of our group took the royal ride up on a couch. There are two men who walk up a stone path carrying the royal chair up to the third tower and drop you off to walk down to the bottom. When I saw two of our group coming down with not a hint of a sweat as I was nearing the top sopping wet I was chalked it up to my being really out of shape. Then the truth is

revealed on the bus.

We had two wounded. One sister dropped a camera lens under the bus and scraped her knee trying to get it. The other was Angela. She made it up to the second tower and started not feeling good. She is ok now but she was carried down on a sedan couch (charge $30+) and was checked out by a medic (charge $14) and they were sent back to the hotel. Having her back with us...PRICELESS!

Me after reaching the third tower. The sign says "If you have brain or heart disease advance the great wall according to your capability". A little late.

Lunch and shopping and a tour of a cloisonne factory followed. The artistry of cloisonne is awesome! The process starts with a metal object and copper wire is adhered to it creating a raised design. Then smaller metal pieces are added and then paint. The paint is repeated over and over again until it is even with the metal wire and creates a smooth surface. The process also includes putting the item into a fiery hole and when it comes out it is red hot but quickly cools down. Of course at the end of the tour there is a store to give you the opportunity to purchase cloisonne pieces.

What followed was the optional foot massage. This is what the Great Tribulation might be like. There was torture followed by relief and relaxation. It was quite the experience. We were taken into a room with six lounge chairs and placed out feet into hot herbal water. Then came in our masseurs. Six Chinese men. They sat down nearly in sinc and started on rubbing the feet, again in sinc with a few added comments between themselves, probably about the size of our feet.

There was acupressure and grimaces with whimpering involved. There was slapping, cupping and spanking all in a very primal rhythmic beat that caused some to start chair dancing. Then they moved up to the thighs again with slapping, cupping and spanking and some blushing thrown in. They put our stinking socks and shoes back on our feet (this caused more blushing) and moved onto our neck, shoulders and back which instigated more moaning and grimacing. (All that shopping really gets the muscles in a knot! And perhaps the Great Wall of China added to it.)

Back to the hotel, a quick dinner and off to the Silk Market for one last shopping trip (or so we thought). We had only 30 minutes to try and locate last minute items as the store was closing. The vendors where ready to deal and then we were herded out the door. To the hotel and packed our bags and tucked into bed at 10:30, setting a 5:00 am alarm.