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Sunday, 26th September 1999
Ming Tombs and The Great Wall.
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The alarm call was at 6:30 today. I tried to
walk to the shower and discovered that although
my ankle was not swollen it was very stiff. Typical!
Today we were meant to be walking along the Great
Wall. I couldn't even walk to the toilet. At 8:00,
we set off by coach for a 2 hour journey to the
Ming Tombs. The weather was, for the first time,
misty and drizzly.
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We walked through an
impressive gate and down a 1 km walk (or
in my case, limp) way guarded by pairs of
mythical and real stone animals, seated
and standing, including lions, camels and
elephants. Two of the mythological creatures
apparently roared if any bad person passed
in front of them, Francis said. We passed
them nervously, in silence. |
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Back to the bus
and on to the second section of the tombs there
was a temple like structure in front of some tunnels.
Very impressive. The gardens had some unusual oak
trees and I collected some acorns. The trees have
very large leaves and the acorns are encased in
spiky shells. I managed to hobble to the top for
the view.
Then to the Friendship Shop for lunch. The shop
was the biggest and most expensive we had seen,
and no-one was tempted to buy anything (except
Ros, who offered to buy me a walking stick...)
Francis recommended some Chinese medicine for
my ankle, which I bought.
After lunch (very busy with dozens of other tourists)
we got back on to the coach to take the long journey
to the Great Wall. Very exciting journey over
the mountains, with hairpin bends and wonderful
views. The driver was excellent, taking it very
easy, so that we could all enjoy it, and not fear
our imminent death on a Chinese road.
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An hour and a half
later, someone shouted "There it is!"
and indeed, we could see the wall with its
watchtowers snaking over the skyline on
top of the ridge of the hills, like a dragon
with humps.
We stopped at a car park
and some went to the loo. This was a pay
loo, but the man there tried to extort Y5
(going rate is about one tenth of that).
Simon just went in and went, the rest of
us hopped outside uncomfortably. Liz to
the rescue and we negotiated Y1.
We then ran the gauntlet
of hawkers ringing bicycle bells and saying,
"You come back - I remember you!"
in a manner that seemed not a little threatening.
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The gondola station
was up a steep rugged path. Bruce
valiantly helped me hobble up. We
got on with June and John, and the
car lurched away. The trip was only
two minutes, but gave great views
over the countryside. The wall was
fantastic, striding away as far as
the eye can see, always going along
the ridge, the most difficult part
to build. It was steadily drizzling
now, and we could not get the really
spectacular views, but nevertheless,
it was very impressive. Again, the
statistics are incredible - 2,000
(?) miles long and wide enough for
ten men or five horses to walk abreast. |
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We looked around
for a while, before descending in the cable car
with Ros and Adrian. Again a sudden lurch, before
dropping fast down to the valley below. Screams
all round (well, not Adrian, of course). If I'd
have wanted to go on a white knuckle ride...
Back through the gauntlet. Some
of them did indeed remember us, but we did not succumb.
(Guess who did - I'll give you a clue, the name
begins with R).
Back to the coach and a quicker
drive back to the hotel. We were back by 6:30, and
just time for a shower and change before dinner
in the hotel restaurant. The food was poor and the
company was execrable. We had to share a table with
one or two members of the group we had, up to now,
managed to avoid dining with. Their greed in diving
for more than their fair share of food and their
boorish treatment of the serving staff and conversation
made it very unpleasant.
Later on, I tried Francis' medicine.
It had an immediate effect, and thereafter, my ankle
was better. |
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