Great Wall, Great Times

Today Team China woke up early, grabbed some fried rice and Cocoa Puffs for breakfast, loaded up the bus, and braced ourselves for the two hour drive that would take us to the Great Wall. When we arrived there, we sleepily trudged out of the bus and began up a path flanked by aggressive vendors. We continued along the path until we arrived at a clearing where we received tickets and instructions for the journey that would follow.  Tickets in hand, we ventured up the first set of steps. On the steps, we learned that this was not actually the Great Wall, but the beginning of a long, tiresome hike that led to the steps of the wall itself. Mr. Kwong also informed us that there was in fact a cable car to the top of the wall, but we would not in fact be taking said cable car. We would instead be testing our will and building character…Thanks Mr. Kwong.

Thirty sweaty minutes later, although the time seemed like years to some, we saw the first glimpses of the wall. We thought the hardest part was over, but the worst was yet to come…

We trekked up the crooked, uneven, stone steps of the Great Wall with determination and water in hand. As we looked up the ominous thousands of remaining steps that loomed ahead of us, we saw our final destination floating amongst the clouds. The clouds themselves were a rare occurrence, as since being in China, we have grown accustomed to smoggy, gray skies. The patches of friendly blue sky almost provided enough motivation to get us through the rest of the hike. Almost. Between the humongous steps that took hands and feet to overcome and the heat, the satisfaction of reaching our destination made it worth it. After we waited for our whole group to make it to the top, we downed our water bottles and Mr. Davis snapped a few photos of us staring into the blindingly bright sun. Thanks Mr. Davis.

We took a few minutes to relax and enjoy our view from what seemed like the top of the world, and then it was time to go back down. But there was a twist. After hiking part of the way back down the looming cliff of stairs, we reached a blue tent. It was the moment we'd all been waiting for. That blue tent meant one thing: the slide down. Who knew there was a slide on the Great Wall of China? Some of us did, but some of us were blissfully surprised.

With adrenaline coursing through our veins and the elation of not having to climb down the rest of the stairs, we mounted our sleds and were down the long, curving slide that took us to where we began.

If you ever make it to the top of the Great Wall, the slide down is well worth the blood, sweat, and tears. 

Nate & Chloee