The Great Wall, and the Hustlers

I headed up to the Great Wall today. That was exhausting. Up and down, sometimes so steep you had to turn around and take the steps backwards on the way down!!!! Two and a half hours of that up and down. It was very impressive, but not as beautiful as some pictures—the atmosphere simply was not cooperating. There is a haze everywhere, so nothing is crisp, clear, blue sky or green trees. Everything is a little gray. Although the sun was out today off and on, I would estimate 20 per cent of the time I could have seen the disk. The rest of the time, there was just a bright haze. Also, today was the day of the hustlers. I sat down and ordered a meal and asked how much it would cost. 90 was the answer ($15). COnsidering we had roast duck and like sixteen other things the night before for about 60, I walked away. A I was walking, the price dropped to 70, then 50....then I could not hear her anymore as I continued walking. Wound up at a fruit stand (in the picture) where a banana was going for 15 until I finally got two for 5 from the vendor next door. (And, yes, 5 was probably a crazy price--I don't know.)  I had several people come up to me to ask me if I wanted to go to coffee so they could practice their English. And another walked me a kilometer along the street (practicing English) and conveniently invited me to his studio so he could show me some things.   "You do not have to buy anything!" he said. "Just come look." And the taxis…..lots of negotiations.

At any rate, tonight I leave Beijing for an overnight sleeper train ride to Xian, where I will see the Terra Cotta Warriors all lined up.