March 26, 2012 The great Wall is very high...

A very busy day....and without mary. She woke up with a sore throat and a cold and decided to heal in the hotel today...it was so hard to leave her behind...Went to the Great Wall of China first. It is very hard to describe its' impact..very steep, many many many steps up to the highest section of these part of the wall. Steps are very worn, huge grooves in them. Steps are very uneven in height, some were one brick high and some 5 bricks high. That's what make it a difficult climb. I must admit that I didn't quite make it to the top. I only had one more set of steps but I was exhausted. Went to a Jade factory next and learned how to determine whether it is real jade...If the jade is cold to touch, then it's real. I didn't know there were so many colours of Jade: purple, yellow, brown, blue, red, black and of course the various greens we're familiar with. Went to a cloisonne factory next and saw how it was made...copper pots are banged and shaped byhand. Small copper wires are twisted into shapes and patterns and then fussed to the entire side of the pot. Then powdered enamels are applied (with watered glue) in between the wires in enough layers so the wire is even with the layer of enamel. Then it's fired. Had lunch in the cloisonne factory and then had time to shop . Took the bus to the most ancient part of Beijing where the people still live like they did 100 years ago...it's Manchurian. Took a rickshaw to an individual's home and got to talk to the family about their lives  and see their home. Very small, very primitive. Street sellers were very agressive here. Took a rickshaw ride back to the bus and went for Peking Duck dinner. The duck pieces were wrapped in a pita like bread and coated with a sauce. it was good but now I'm getting fussy as I 've eaen so much great food. I guess it was built up too much. Came home to see mary sitting in the lobby at our favourite computer spot. She's OK, still blowing her nose profusely but really glad she stayed home. we're off to another Temple of HeavenWinter, a 300 year old pharmacy and a zoo to see Panda's. Our bags are to be packed by 7;30 am and left outside our doors to be picked up because we're heading to Xi'an by plane tomorrow afternoon after our visit to the zoo. Yahooey1