Saturday – July 10, Noon
Well, I still want a mulligan. In golf, that’s a ‘do-over’ when you totally totally blow a shot (and you’re playing with buddies who don’t mind this breaking of the rules). I had really looked forward to this visit to the Great Wall because my last trip was in the dead of winter and I nearly froze to the Wall at zero degree temperatures. Today – it’s raining cats and dogs… and cold. So I want a mulligan. 
Nonetheless… I did thoroughly enjoy my trek. My guide, Jason, was just a wonderful wonderful guy. He’s a nut over NBA basketball and tried to talk players/teams with me until he realized I didn’t know nearly as much as he did. He was patient and helpful… and made the entire experience just all around great. We spent a lot of time on my iPad – he was fascinated by it. We went through all my snaps from last tour through Beijing and now I want to go back and re-write that blog… he told me so much stuff. He’s really well trained and knows his Beijing history. (So if any of you are ever headed over here and need a guide, I have his contact info.)
The Wall at Mutianyu is about an hour’s drive outside Beijing. It’s a steeper, more ‘natural’ visit to the Great Wall. (But it’s not ‘Wild’ – as they call the sections of the Wall that are completely not maintained.) My first visit to Badaling was very commercial and the Wall had been practically rebuilt at that section. This area of the Wall was less touristy and more ‘rugged’. I SO wish it had been a pretty day… The clouds practically covered the Wall and it was tough to get any decent pictures. And you can see from the chair lift shots that it was just wet wet wet (and yes, I got drenched).
All in all, though, it was just a complete blessing to be able to experience this again.
