The Great Wall of China
November 4, 2007
The Great Wall.
The walk up is difficult becuase it's all uphill. Be ready to go slow and bring some water. Once there the impressiveness passes quickly. While I felt accomplishment and awe, it really is just a wall...that you're standing on. It's wide enough that you don't feel that you will fall off but you do have to be careful because even the areas that are restored are still at little dangerous.
Can you hear me now?
I think the phone worked.
As you approach the wall there are some hawkers who act as free guides and will hold your hand as you take steps. No matter what you tell them they don't leave you alone so eventually you just accept that they are there. Their angle is that as you exit they try and sell you an overpriced T-shirt, book or post cards.
We had a beer on the wall which was a neat feeling. I don't quite know how they get electricity up there for the fridge or the engraver that they use to create a quick plaque for you. I really think that there was a long extension cord going all the way to the town at the bottom of the hill.
After the long drive back we had to have Peking Duck.
Beer on top of the wall.
We went to the Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant. It was really nice and they gave us free wine and soda while we waited for a table. Our guide said we only needed one duck for all 6 of us, but in hindsight I think 2 would have been better. We got the duck and several other plates to eat and were all stuffed by the end of the meal. The duck was great and I only hope I can find one as good at home.
With it being our last day together we couldn't seperate so early. We headed off to the bars which were just down the street from the restaurant. The bar had a "band" There were two apparantly professional karaoke singers who tried as hard as they could to sing American songs. We all sang along and told them how great they were. We were the hit of the bar I think. There was a couple from Lebonan that we met and they partied with us for several hours until finally we were so drunk that we had to leave.
We said our farewells. We leave tomorrow in the early afternoon. Michelle and Lee leave later that day as well. We decided to plan a 2009 Panama Canal Cruise. I can't wait.
Going to Beijing isn't complete without tasting their roast duck. Formerly called Peking Duck it is now referred to as Beijing Duck, after the city. Beijing Duck is a marinated then roasted duck. While duck can be fatty, when it is prepared this way I did not find it to be.
This restaurant is farther from the city center than other locations but definitely within taxi cab distance. Their customer service was great and it started off with free wine and soda while you await your table. Once seated you receive a huge menu which is more of a picture book then any menu I had seen in the past. Each entree has a description in English, but the menu we had was English only so I'm sure there is a separate Chinese Menu. A duck only costs $150 yuan or about $20 and we fed 6 with it along with other items. In hindsight I would recommend 1 duck for every three persons. Along with the duck they have numerous other items and everything we ate was great.
In much of Beijing you will see ducks with their head still on. In this restaurant when your duck is done they carve it in front of you and then take it away. No need to stare at the head during all of dinner.
The staff spoke enough English that we got what we had ordered and understood what they asked or suggested. All in all we spent about $20USD per person including drinks and a lot of food, so it is a great value.
Just down the street from the restaurant is a nightclub area that was a lot of fun. For a good night out hit this restaurant and follow it up with some club hopping down the street.
This restaurant is farther from the city center than other locations but definitely within taxi cab distance. Their customer service was great and it started off with free wine and soda while you await your table. Once seated you receive a huge menu which is more of a picture book then any menu I had seen in the past. Each entree has a description in English, but the menu we had was English only so I'm sure there is a separate Chinese Menu. A duck only costs $150 yuan or about $20 and we fed 6 with it along with other items. In hindsight I would recommend 1 duck for every three persons. Along with the duck they have numerous other items and everything we ate was great.
In much of Beijing you will see ducks with their head still on. In this restaurant when your duck is done they carve it in front of you and then take it away. No need to stare at the head during all of dinner.
The staff spoke enough English that we got what we had ordered and understood what they asked or suggested. All in all we spent about $20USD per person including drinks and a lot of food, so it is a great value.
Just down the street from the restaurant is a nightclub area that was a lot of fun. For a good night out hit this restaurant and follow it up with some club hopping down the street.
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