Today I walked on the Great Wall of China. It doesn’t even feel real when I say that out loud. The view at the highest point I climbed was incredible! I saw layers of mountain after mountain until the mist (*smog*) obscured the furthest peaks. The way up was steep, and I felt especially winded in the heat, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. The view from the top of the wall was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. On the way up were little stops that branched out from the steps, where you could buy water and snacks. The temptation to buy a magnum ice cream was intense, but my desire dispelled as soon as I found out how expensive they were. Who pays 20 rnb for an ice cream?? It wasn’t even a big ice cream.
After the hike, I had a foot long sandwich and saw a mountain dog. We fed her the scraps from our lunch. The long bus ride to the Olympic National Park let me rest and digest. The visit to the park was short and sweet, something I needed after the long hike. I saw the bird’s nest!! Most of the tourists there were Chinese, and I couldn’t take ten paces without interrupting someone’s photo. A few Chinese tourists even asked to take photos with another student.