Day 3 - Part 2 - Great Wall of China

I didn't really care that much about seeing the Great Wall of China while we were there but I knew Kevin's company would do an event on it.  And boy did it far exceed my expectations.  I think this was probably my favorite part of our whole trip!  The experience was incredible and something you should definitely do if you ever get the opportunity.  These pictures don't do it justice...it was simply amazing.

First on the way from The Forbidden City to the Great Wall, they drove us past Olympic Park.  That was cool to see the birdsnest and other buildings.

On the bus ride to the Great Wall, they gave the ladies toilet paper.  It was very welcomed in case we had to use a hole.  AHHH.

Our first site at the Great Wall.  This was at 5pm.....it wasn't getting dark.  This was smog!

But this was my second site - real bathrooms that Kevin's company had brought it for everyone.  THANK GOODNESS.

Then we started the trek.

This ramp was nothing.  Nothing.

Let the steps commence.

You can see how uneven they are.

You can tell by looking at Benjy's rear how tall the steps were.  Substantial.  Look at the lady on the left coming down...that was no easy task either.

Kevin talking to 2nd in charge of his company.

That landing area is as far as ole Kev got.  He started up the stairs but after about 30 of them, he said no dice for several reasons.  He did get to have good conversation with lots of folks as other people waited there too.

But we kept going and going...and I turned into a sweaty disaster.

Heck if I wasn't going to the top.  Do you know how many people would love to have been doing what we are doing?  So I rolled on.  And panted.  And put one foot in front of the other.

Check this stairwell out.

These pictures don't show how strenuous it really was.  I had to have half a granola bar at the top and I don't even need fuel to run 6-7 miles.  

The views were outstanding.

We aren't right.

We went to station 12 out of 13.

There were only about 20 people that made it up as far as us (out of 400).  The next night the same number of folks went but only 5 people went up that high.  We couldn't make it to the last station...we ran out of town.  The company security team was all up and down the wall and they counted the number of people and knew where everyone was.  Top notch.

They posed in their Panthers gear to send into the magazine.

It really was an incredible experience.

When we came back down, Kevin was waiting for us.  I thought he would have gone on to the party with our other friends but he didn't.  That was sweet.

Next up, they had a part for us on the great wall.  And I went as a sweaty mess.  But the night didn't end there.  More to come!