What an exiting day today was….We got up with our usual wake up call….Every day the prearrange things for us….6 am wakeup, 7 am breakfast, 8 am departure….We had our usual breakfast boarded the bus and we were off to the Jade Factory.

Ok one not so fun fact….3 more people fell, we are up to 6 of our 32 people have fallen….no Sharon and I are not one of them….and we do not plan on it…

Upon arrival we will greeted by Meow Meow, the cutest, funniest tour guide….She had us all laughing within minutes…She took us thru the factory, telling us where and how Jade comes from, stopping for us to watch the jade actually being carved….the funniest part is when she told us how she learned english – can you guess?  She watches Sex and the City – she also decided to wear high heels like the ladies on the show….then we were all assigned a person who followed us thru the whole store  it was high pressured sales…i bought a couple of things, Sharon did not as the person she had was just way too pushy…

So with that we then got back on the bus….and we drove and we drove and we drove….did I tell you that we were on the bus and drove….traffic here is insane….really insane….after several hours we finally arrived at the Great Wall.  It was packed – I am sure there were a million there pushing and shoving to get up the very steep steps…so off Sharon and I went – a man pointed for us to go right so we did….unfortunately it took us the wrong way and we were going up the down path….not funny when those million people are headed towards you. Within minutes we realized what was up and climbed a set of stairs – we were now on the wall….the climb begins….we must have climbed for about 20 minutes when we came to the first guard lookout tower.  Sharon thought it was too steep for her with that many people in a crush, so she stayed below and I decided it would be fun to go up, on the way up there was a mother in front of me with a baby on her shoulders….want a laugh, the baby had crotchless pants on and the bum was hanging out….I was a bit nervous that if the baby pooped it would be on me….but up I kept going….Upon reaching the tower I looked out and waved at Sharon below….what a feeling it was….ok so lets climb some more….I reached the next small plateau, went up 10 more steps and there I ended my climb….I would have done more you know but I had to be back on the bus by 4:15 and needed time to get down….of course you know me, I made a few friends along the way, met some really nice student teachers….and had my picture with a couple of chinese kids….I am a celebrity here….ok – this is not all about me…I need to get back to Sharon…

I finally got back to where Sharon was and she was laughing and having fun with some women from our group, she also was having her celebrity picture taken from some chinese friends….Down the hill we went, much easier you now….now back on the bus….to guess what….drive and drive and drive….we got back to Beijing where they took us to a Western Restaurant….well not quite the American food we are used to but it was food….I think we may have lost a little weight here…

Now for the Happy Ending….we went to a foot massage parlor…yes it was big….can accomodate many at once…we were in a room of 5…of course our massage therapists didn’t speak English but what fun we had….we learned they were all 20 except one….we spoke english they answered chinese, we laughed they laughed – who knows what we all said…when I told them I knew chinese – I said “Nee How”…they siad “nee how” back, when I said “Bu Yow” instantly my foot massage ended….I said No no…..keep going….BU Yow means  – don’t want – we all had a great laugh….it was an amazing foot massage….

Back on the bus again….it was a quick ride to the hotel….Sharon and I had the best day….tiring but fun……off to sleep we went….