Great Wall Trip Numero Uno!

So as most of our facebook friends know from the photos posted last week, we had an opportunity to go on a day trip with Marines visiting from the International Affairs Program in the DC Area.  This trip included a visit to the Great Wall, Tiananmen Sqaure, and the Forbidden City.  It was a great chance to get to see some of China's most treasured sites.  We ran into some inclement weather by day's end, so we decided to get the kids home and forgo the Forbidden City, and we only stayed for a few minutes at Tiananmen Square.
Aside from our early departure, it was a fantastic day, and our fellow FAO's and Marines were so accomodating and helpful with the kids!  We definitely could not have made it through the Great Wall trip without their help, most notably with carrying our kids on portions of the stairs leading up to the wall. 
Thanks, and    (Insert Motivational Grunt Here)   !

All the Marines in our group...Oorah!

We went to the section of the Great Wall known as Mutianyu.  According to our wonderful trip coordinator and fellow FAO, this is a well maintained portion of the wall that is less overrun with tourists.  This meant we had a chance to explore with minimal crowds and unobstructed photo-ops.  It was also as kid friendly as a structure with a ton of stairs could be.  You don't have to worry about loosing your footing or pieces of the wall sloughing off while trying to move on the wall.

Isabelle made a quick friend in our driver to the Great Wall

Waiting with our group to climb the stairs to get to the Great Wall

The bottom of the stairs to get to the Great Wall.  This was before Isabelle's legs were, in her words,  "too tired for climbing stairs"

Isabelle quickly hitched a ride with one of our FAO friends

Jacob also changed hands midway up the stairs

Finally, we can see the end!

Yes! Finally here!

Beers and Motrin with the Colonel at the top of the Great Wall

Yes, I'll have one too!

First Great Wall Family Photo

Group photo in front of one of the many Guard Stations, spaced a couple of hundred meters apart along the wall as far as the eye could see.

My sweet girl

Someone found her energy supply...racing on the Great Wall

...and someone lost their energy supply

Notice that the stairs are made to fit little feet

Isabelle taking it all in.  Magnificent views!

Isabelle relishing in her celebrity status here

China's National Forest Protection Army

Now it's our turn to take our cheesy tourist photo

Meeting a very friendly vendor

Sonny with Kim, our amazing trip planner:)

This one's a framer!  Another family photo before descending the moutain...

...and what a fun way to go down!

Weeee!

Isabelle and her new favorite Marine right behind me

If you couldn't tell, we had an amazing time on our first of probably many family trips to the Great Wall.  I could not stop wondering in amazement how laborers and craftsmen were able to make that climb with the huge bricks that crompise this wall.  In those days they definitely didn't have the stairs WE used to climb up the mountain.  It's just something you stand back and stare at in awe, trying to imagine how much must have been mobilized back then to complete such a formidable wall. 

I'll leave you with some of the photos captured that just need no words.  It was an incredible experience seeing such an integral piece of China's history that still tells its story to this day.  I would encourage anyone visiting this region to make this a stop on your travels, it's a must see that has no substitute.

WanFuJing Street Smorgasbord

...yes, I had to look up how to spell Smorgasbord.  You learn something new everyday! 

Last week, we had a chance on our Great Wall Day Trip to visit WanFuJing Street.  This market was highlighted during the Olympics as having the most variety in the world of things you can eat "on a stick".  From the normal (ie. corn on the cobb) to the weird (see pics):

Ok, Corn on a stick is not so bad.   

Fruit with a hard sugary glaze...Again, not so weird

...this was where culinary normality ended

REALLY?  Scorpions and Starfish!

...rows and rows of them

some sort of exoskeletal creatures

Maybe Lamb on a rotisserie?

Big snails! 

We didn't try anything adventerous, this time.  I'd consider this Wanfujing visit a warm-up lap.  For those of you thinking about visiting us in Beijing, you may be trying some scorpion, starfish, snails, grasshoppers, or cicadas on a stick with us!

This market is also filled with vendors selling kitchy chinese souvenirs (clay warriors, jewelry, ornament, tea sets, chopsticks).  Let me know if you see something you like, we are getting our feet wet with haggling out here, and we'd be more than happy to set out for the best bargains on items you'd like us to send home.

Isabelle driving a hard bargain for some "learners chopsticks"

We've been around to a few markets now, selling both on the high and low end of products such as pearls, silk, antique furniture, porcelain, jade, and coral.  If there's something you'd like us to keep an eye out for, or if there's something you'd like us to have made for you, start sending us your ideas now so we have plenty of time to find the perfect item that fit what you're looking for!  Or....you can start planning your trip to Beijing and we'll make sure you get your hands on the best deals!