Today we visited the site of the Olympics and the Great Wall. This was the coolest temperature day we've had this trip.
The Great Wall is the most awesome sight we've visited. It is massive, and marches relentlessly across the mountains. Watch towers were used by soldiers to spend a night or two, store weapons, and, of course, to keep watch for enemies. The stone steps on the wall range from relatively flat, to shallow, to Paul Bunyan size. Hiking the wall is good exercise!
The views are spectacular. Nut and cherry trees grow right around it. In Asian times, no one wanted to live near the wall because it was dangerous. Now farmers raise crops in the area.
It was hot today on the wall, but cool in the watchtowers. We were glad to have our UV protection umbrellas with us. We each got bit by large insects with wings like moths. They drew blood and left fang marks about a third of an inch apart.
The wall is stupendous, but the vendors we had to walk thru as we left were like mosquitos. Even if we'd been inclined to buy something, their aggressiveness meant we plowed right thru them. There is a Subway shop at the base where I gather that a lot of westerners eat. Our guide took us to a nearby nice Chinese restaurant, where we had a yummy meal with vegetables for a total of about $12.
The part of the wall we went to is about 90 minutes out of Beijing. We enjoyed seeing the rural area and a blue sky with a few clouds. Our driver had some tassels with Chairman Mao's picture attached hanging from the rear view mirror for protection. Our guide said 30 - 40% of the people consider Chairman Mao a god. Afterwards we headed back to the smog that envelopes Beijing.
I cannot fathom siting an athletic event here due to the pollution, but it happened. We saw the birds nest and water cube today, a circle and a square. People can pay to go in and look at the birds nest, but there is nothing in there. It is so expensive to use that it's idle. There are 3 pools in the water cube and it is used every day. The plaza itself is large and used by people for various activities. Today we saw a club roller skating for fun.
Twenty years ago Beijing was the bicyle kingdom. Now the streets are clogged with cars. The traffic here is chaotic, flowing like water, with conversational honking. Cars, buses, pushcarts, electric bikes, pedicabs and pedestrians share whatever road there is. Pedestrians are the lowest on the totem pole. Somehow it all works, but mostly is is best not to watch when you are in a taxi.
Tonight I returned to last night's restaurant. I know, rule #128, but I wanted the hot and sour soup I didn't get with last night's dinner. This time I had a view of the kitchen when the door opened. It is busy and loud in there, and beautiful dishes come out. My soup cost ¥15, or just over $2. It turned out to be delicious. Many of the staff were eating their dinner when I left and they bid me goodbye.
Vanessa and I agree that the food here does not seem to be better than what we get in Portland. The main seasonings seem to be salt, oil, MSG.
It is hard to resist eating fresh food because we miss it a lot. The peaches and plums are in season and look beautiful. The guidance is simple, however. If it isn't cooked, boiled or you peel it yourself, forget it. I did weaken and get a cold wrap at Starbucks. Have remembered to brush my teeth with bottled water - until tonight when I rinsed my mouth with tap water. Rinsed again right away with bottled water. I slept with a buckwheat husk pillow last night. I like it.
Tomorrow the forbidden city, Tianamen square and the summer palace.
No comments:
Post a Comment