Another Brick in the Wall

It has been really hard to post lately...we can't log into our account, and it sometimes boots us out for no reason. Word on the street is that the Chinese government is blocking all blogs and chat rooms, or at least trying to, and you know Sarah and I...without any chinese language ability, we really have our finger on the pulse of the country : ).

Well we did it...we climbed the Wall. We saw the monstrosity in Badaling, which is the more touristy section, but it was still really cool. Neither one of use wanted to try and climb over broken sections, and this part has had the most extensive remodeling. Sarah was even asked by a chinese guy if she could pose for a picture with him and his father...that was pretty funny.

The wall itself is really hard to describe unless you've been there. It is just that, a huge wall/fort. It was about 60 feet high and 30 to 40 feet thick with watch towers and defensive positions all over it. The area is a little mountainous, and it snakes off thru the hill just like any post card. It was so gorgeous, really breathtaking.

Next to the wall they have a erected a huge Beijing Olympics 2008 sign. They are really pumped about the upcoming games. I hope it goes ok for them, but I am not sure if they have the transportation down. Should be interesting anyway. I just envision taxis lined thru the streets, but they can't really go anywhere because there all these chinese merchants trying to sell t-shirts, hats, and bottles of water.

After the wall we stopped in this small cafe to sit outside in the shade. I ordered a beer and Sarah ordered a coke. Both were served warm and we were given some dirty glasses to pour them into. "I would like a warm beer served in a dirty glass.....perfect!" Ahhh, China.