Beijing

We'll spread our Green and Gold afar.....

What an incredible day!

First, we met our friends Dorinda and Chris in the lobby. I got to know Dorinda early summer of last year through our support groups on Facebook. She's been an incredible blessing through this process and I was so excited to FINALLY meet her and her husband.  (picture below was taken this evening with our guide Michelle)

The first thing we did was visit a jade market.  Everything was so beautiful and we got to watch them carve a few pieces.

Largest carving of jade.

Next we drove to the great wall. We survived the winding roads....BARELY. I'm absolutely amazed at how they drive in Beijing. It's a wonder that we didn't wreck or witness one.

Once we got to the Great Wall it was FREEZING cold!  This Texas girl had a lot of adjusting to do.

We climbed some of the steepest stairs and ramps I've ever seen. By the time we got to the lift I was waiting for the medal presentation but alas we still needed to ride to the top in order to actually see the great wall!  Mercy!

 Here we are going up the lift VERY Steep!!

There was a lift that had a sign on it saying USA President Bill Clinton rode in this #26 car 1998. Pretty funny they commemorated it.

 Plaque entrance for the Mutiantu section of the Great Wall. 

Let me just say this. These pictures do not do this great wall experience any justice. It was magnificent and breath taking. So much history. So much beauty.

 There are watcher towers where soldiers would camp in to keep an eye on the Mongol side.  These are a few pictures of where they would sleep.

 There is a "tip" on the top so that the soldier could shoot their bow and arrow pointing down at the enemy.

 After the Great Wall,  we ate at an authentic restaurant close to the great wall. It was delicious. There was one dish we couldn't figure out but since it looked like a vegetable I did try it.  We found out it was fried eggplant. Yummy! 

 Next stop was the rickshaw tour of houtong lane. It was eye opening seeing houses that were hundreds of years old.

 We were invited into a home of a gentleman who was a fifth generation living there with his two sisters and their spouses.  White we were sitting in his kitchen I noticed his picture with a flutist. So neat!

Last stop was a tea making experience. We enjoyed tasting all the different types of herbal tea and were taught the tea making tradition.  Ginseng was my favorite!  

We did get our first glimpse of a squatty potty. Thankfully,  there was a "western" toilet so we survived! Everywhere we went the majority were squatty potties and you had to bring your own toilet paper.

We came back to the hotel for a drink and bite to eat soaking in everything we experienced. God is so good and we will always cherish this day with our amazing friends.

When I came back to the hotel I noticed a book on our night stand. I was shocked at what was there.  It is a great reminder seeing God's word is even here in Beijing.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Wuhan!  Nighty night