The Great Wall

Trip Start Jul 28, 2006
1
23
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Trip End Ongoing


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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Today is to be the long-awaited trip to the Great Wall. First we visit a cloisonné factory. I am pretty much in awe of the handcrafted, seven-step work that is done here. Apparently Japan has found a way to mass-produce the artwork but if you buy cloisonné from China it is still done by hand in a tradition handed down from generation to generation. Not too many of the younger generation are interested in this tedious artwork so I am afraid, it too, like embroideries and inside bottle painting will be a thing of the past soon.
Next we are off to the Ming tombs; animals and human figures line the route. Only one of the tombs has been excavated-that of the Empress and we see some of the things that were found inside. You cannot imagine the beauty and intricacy of detail of the things needed for everyday life that accompanied her to the next life. I am particularly taken by a headdress that is covered with individual blue bird feathers of a color that I have never seen before adding color
adding color
 . I cannot imagine how many birds had to loose their lives to create this but it is exquisite.
Finally, we are off to the Great Wall. Began in the sixth century, the wall is over 2,000 years old. Originally over 5,000 kilometers long and running from desert to ocean, now only 3,000 kilometers remain; but, not because it has decayed; because it has been plundered by farmers for its stones. The wall itself is in fantastic condition-no wonder it is one of the seven man-made wonders of the world. There are two ways to climb the section of the wall we are at-the easier way with many, many steps and the harder way with more angled walkways and fewer steps. I want to climb the wall with Matt, but he and Michael and Deborah choose to go the hard way and I know I will never make it. So Sally and I join the throngs going the easy way. It is crowded and vendors harass you every step of the way. Still, there is something magical about walking on the same pathway that someone used so long ago. We reach the "hero's point", the third guardhouse and Sally has had it. We return to the beginning and do some shopping. It takes Matt almost two hours to do the "hard way" and Debbie needed considerable help along the way so it is just as well that I am satisfied with the walk I did. All of us are exhausted but triumphant; everyone agrees it has been the highlight of the trip.
Later that evening we gather at the hotel for our farewell banquet of Peking duck. There is much merriment and reminiscing about our days together. We recall the good days and the bad; the people we loved and those we didn't (including a group we call the "Clampetts" who have dogged us since boarding our ship-but, that is a whole other story) and exchange emails and addresses and vow to keep in touch. We were such a diverse group-old and young, American and Argentinean, able and not so able, but we bonded and each of our journeys was the better for sharing with it with each other.
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