Another big tick on our imaginary list. We hiked 10km of the Great Wall of China today. Amazing !

It was an early start for us. Up at 6:30. The Hostel reception came to check that we were up at 7. I have to admit this hostel is amazing with everything.

A 2.5 hour bus ride full of western travellers and tourists took us past the busy (typical) section of the wall, which is packed, to a more remote location. The 30 of us had 10km of wall all to ourselves.

As soon as we started out our ears tweaked as we heard the old Safa accent coming from 6 other people in the group. So far all the Safas we have come across have been more proud, annoying, loud and obnoxious than the sterotypical American. We were embarrassed to be assocated by birthplace as they droned on and on to poor unsuspecting Euros and Americans.

The hike was strenuous. The first section has been restored (like the popular spots and what you see on postcards) but as we climbed up over hills and down valleys the wall reverted to ruins – which were far more intersting to me. V was really battling (unusually) with her cold but we were both thankful for the cloud cover and spots of rain.

Lunch at local farmers was typical. Rice and various fried things but nothing odd. We all snoozed on the bus back home while nat geo videos of the wall and South Park played on.

It was an incredible and exhausting experience. A full day’s adventure. Tomorrow more sightseeing in Beijing.

[Picture: V looking worse for wear on the wall, and a view of ‘the stone dragon’
GPS Location: N40.327260, E115.968525]

– Posted from my iPhone