Great Wall & Summer Palace

Finally....

I've always wanted to see the Great Wall in person. I know this trip was not about seeing the sites, but this was one site I really wanted to see. When we were ready to book our flight to China, we had planned to tour Beijing first. Then the fiasco with our US paperwork hit, and we thought about cancelling the Beijing trip. But I just couldn't let it go. I said there's no way you can visit China & NOT see the Great Wall!

We visited the jade factory first! What a neat place. Wish I was a millionaire as I would have purchased a LOT! Instead I opted for a pendant & bracelet for Kalia (which I'm going to wear for awhile til she's older....see how that works! :) The pieces were stunning, and it was reflected in the prices! A jade bangle was going for around $1200!!!! WAY to rich for my blood! Some of the bigger pieces such as this ship were going for over $10,000!

After that we headed to the Great Wall. Oh my God!!!! It was breathtaking! Dan (with Kalia strapped on) & I climbed to the 3rd tower. Definitely got my workout in today! And I know Dan did! The steps are all different heights & sizes....VERY hard to climb without a baby strapped on. There were some steps that were so tall I had to lift my leg so high that my food was hip-height! But the views....and just to say you've been on the Wall....definitely worth it! Going down was definitely the hardest....especially for Dan as he couldn't see around Kalia to watch his steps real good. Once at the bottom I looked back up & couldn't believe I was actually here. Amazing!

From there we went for some lunch. Kung Pao chicken, veggies & Coke again. We told Joe we liked chicken, so I guess he thinks Kung Pao chicken is safe! It was very good though.

Next we went next door to the pearl factory. Awesome place! We were not told we would be visiting and we don't carry a lot of money with us (and the credit cards are left in the hotel safe), so unfortunately we didn't get to purchase a lot....a necklace for Kalia when she gets older & a bracelet to wear in the next year or so. I would have liked to purchase a lot more, and we made it known to Joe that he should have told us we were going. I was very disappointed!

Our last stop of the day was the Summer Palace. Beautiful Park! I felt bad. There was a storm rolling in & the temperature dropped quite a bit and the wind picked up. Unfortunately I didn't have anything warmer to put on Kalia. I usually have a sweater &/or blanket with me, but I forgot them both...go figure! She didn't seem to mind, and I tried to keep her out of the wind and bundled in the Snugli, so maybe that helped.

Anyway, it was a really pretty park with the beautiful arched bridges and, of course, the marble boat that the Emperor used during his summer trips out there.

When we were done there we headed back to the hotel. We opted out of going out to dinner. Instead we decided to just walk around near our hotel. There was a KFC & McDonald's close by (we ended up eating McD's), a large mall, a pedestrian market & a Haagen Daas shop where we stopped to get some desert! Mmmmmm....

This was our last night in China! Tomorrow at 11:30 we meet our guide one last time & head to the airport for our flight home. I'm sad to be leaving China...the birth country of our daughter...but MORE than ready to be going HOME! I'll take all the prayers I can get for a safe trip home and an easy transition for Kalia once there. Crossing all body parts that the flight goes well and that she rests for at least some of it! See ya'll soon!