The Great Wall

I was so excited the day we went to see the Great Wall.  I have been wanting see the GW since we arrived in China.  It was my favorite day.  When I taught 5th grade, I loved teaching the chapter on China and the Great Wall.  I can't believe that I finally got to see it.  We arrived and I was in awe.  To think that people built this hundreds of years ago without the modern tools of today is just unbelievable.

The first thing was saw as we began our adventure were the locks hanging on the side of the wall.  Our guide told us that people used to be able to get married on the wall and they would hang a lock to symbolize their "locked" love.  I wish I had remember this.  I would've brought a lock and placed it among the others.

Next, we started our climb.  We could see three or four towers on the mountain and we made that last tower that we could see our goal.  We wanted to make it to the top tower.  As we began our climb, we could already tell that this trip was going to be hard.  Immediately it was steep and the steps were tall.  As we made it to the first tower, we were already out of breath.  Well, mom and I were.  

Our climb ahead

Stopped at the first tower

Mom and me climbing.  It was hard and very steep.

Ronny and Joseph

At the second tower, Joseph was finished.  He stayed behind with our guide.  She took him back down to the bottom to play.  We kept climbing to the third tower and mom decided she was finished.  So, it was just me and Ronny.  We continued to climb and finally made it to our goal.  But, once we got there we realized that there were two more towers after that.  It killed Ronny to think about coming this far and not finishing.  He wanted to continue so I trudged along behind him.  Out of breath and moaning the whole way. 

 Leaving Joseph behind

 This sign cracked me up.  It was saying not to climb on the outside of the towers, but I always joked that the GW was dangerous and we weren't supposed to climb it.

 There was a large wall where everyone signed their names.

This sign was hilarious too!

As we were climbing the last two towers of this section of the GW, I suddenly realized that I REALLY had to go to the bathroom.  We had passed two bathrooms on the way that were disgusting and I didn't want to use them but they were nothing compared to the last bathroom that we came to.  I didn't go in, but Ronny said that he stuck his head in the building and thought he was going to puke.  Obviously, it is never cleaned.  So I decided to hold it.  

 Our view from the top.  We finally made it!

 Two little buildings off to the side of the wall.  We don't know what these were.

We Made It!  

I knew I was going to be sore after this, but I didn't realize how sore.  I have never been so sore in my life!  My right leg hurt the worst.  Sometimes, it would even give out on me as I was walking and I would almost fall down.  Even four days after the climb, it was still hurting and giving out on me.  But, I can now say that I've climbed the great wall.  I am so blessed to have had that experience.  Aside from Gotcha Day, this was my favorite day in China!

Video of us at the top of the Great Wall of China.