Great Wall and so much more...

June 14 - The Great Wall and Acrobat Show
 

We began our day with the hotel breakfast and then to the Great Wall. It was a super hot day and the sun was bright and it was a clear day, as far as visibility goes. We had brought a backpack and a carrier so Jason started out with Kainan on his back and me with the overpacked backpack. We decided we try to climb as far up the wall as we could. There is a stair way, but picture this: 95 degree weather, about 30 pounds on your back, a stair way about 12 feet wide (on the largest mouths of the walk way), crowds comparable to Time Square, age ranges climbing this wall from 2 years old (yes...with mama in tow...no idea why) to 80 years old, uneven stairs...some about 6" high to the next step up and some up to my knee to the next step, construction on the stairs going on latterly as we walked up, so some stones weren't even secure, men were taking up half the walk way and not really moving out of your way to get up, and steep, so steep that you really did need to hold the hand rail to get up, but sometimes there were so many people that would just stop suddenly to take a picture, catch their breath, etc) that we'd make a quick dash to the middle, brace ourselves, take a few steps, and then grab the railing again. We all started up. Mike, our official photographer, stopped to take pictures and Kathy told us to go on and she'd wait for Mike. They made it up a little past the construction part of the stairway, just shy of the first tower, and decided to head down. Jason and I made it up to the first tower...but as we got to the top, one of the dad's from our group got overheated and wasn't doing well. I took Kainan on my back and headed back down; and Jason stayed with another dad from our group to help escort the dad that got overheated down. It was pretty scary, but all made it down safely. 

Once everyone was down and safe, we had about 40 minutes before we were to load the bus to lunch, so I shopped around the souvenirs.

We went to an aluminum factory where they make what looks like porceline vases, but the material is hard aluminum and not breakable. It's a unique product of this area, and the process to make the vases, and other items out of this technique was quite impressive. We toured the factory and then headed up stairs to a restaurant. We eat family style, and the food was so good...so welcomed. I was starting to think I wouldn't find anything this whole trip that would satisfy me, and Kathy was feeling the same. We eat, and visited with another family. 

We then headed back to the hotel for an hour rest before heading back out to the acrobat show. Kainan has done great. He slept a little later on this day, but had no nap, and was on the go with us like a trooper. The acrobat show was really cool, and Kainan LOVED it. We took lots of video of the show for Kainan and Kai to have.

We then headed back to the hotel, grabbed a bit to eat at the Noodle Restaurant next door, this time a little more familiar with what to order, and had 2 meals in one day that we enjoyed. I have to say, my body doesn't love the food here. I now feel a bit better and have been able to actually eat food; but my body feels swollen from all the carbs, starches, oils, salts and sauces that I'm not use to. I'll just have to deal with that in two weeks.

We headed to bed, and prepared for our trip to Zhengzhou the next morning, where we meet Kai. I have to say that as much as these past few days have been truly experiences of a lifetime, I'm already exhausted, and it feels like we've been here for over a week already.

Thanks for following us, and please continue to pray for us, as the real reason we are here is only two sleeps aways.

All our love, the Capps.