Golden Week number 1
Here's an ordinary weekend for me in China. (Thanks, www.marriedtothesea.com) Nothing wrong with it, but that's no way to spend my only vacation until January. Besides, in my experience, TV here in China gets even worse around the holidays.
So I came to Beijing to see Hilary and her friends from the Shizz (so much easier than saying Shijiazhuang). Yes, this is Beijing, I swear. Right by Tiananmen.
This is also Beijing, and a little more recognizable. Left banner says "Fervent congratulations to the PRC on reaching 57 years." Right banner is blocked by cars and people, which is oddly appropriate for China.
My first full day there (Wednesday) a bunch of us went on a hike along the Great Wall from 金山岭 to 司马台. Left to right: Zach, me, Hilary, Dave, Mike (above Dave), Brock, Garrison (ask him about his pointing game), Anna, Natalia (both Swedish), and Charlie.
Those of you who have been to the Great Wall know that the name is a dirty lie. It is really more like the Great Staircase. We had all of about 1000 flat feet of our 10km walk. These here were some of the most even, shallowest stairs we walked down. Also, check it out: mules.
This is me about halfway through. This is also what passes for 'flat' on the Wall. Notice the gentle slope and unevenness. Also note how tired I look, completely oblivious as to how much is left. The actual halfway point is the highest watchtower that you can see in the background.
We walked this whole part too.
The end is that horizontal cut on the right, about halfway up. What you can't see is the drop down to a bridge over a river, or the climb back up. Whee (sarcastic). You also can't see the zipline over the river. Whee (non-sarcastic)! Also, the zipline saved, according to the sign, 1350m of walking. That's meters, not miles.
Shizz people at Fuku, 男王老师's favorite restaurant in Beijing, and maybe mine (though the Mexican place we later ate at was very good. Chili Rellenos 4 life).
And the rest of the Shizz folks. Except Charlie. He was too close to me, I guess. Man, if you ever want to make Brits in China happy, just give them curry. They take that stuff seriously. It's like giving me cheese. (Chili rellenos, biatch.)
And here's a kinda blurry picture of the 前海 bars, near Fuku. I'm actually kind of surprised it's only this blurry, considering how dark it was.
How about some proof I still look really silly in photos, even in China? Here's 前门, the front gate, at the south of Tiananmen square. The actual "Heaven at Peace" gate is right below. Turns out even Americans ask what "Midd Yid" means.
Here's me with some of the Shizz teachers in front of a fountain that those of you who have been to Tiananmen Square will not recognize, since it seems to be there just for National Day/Mid-Autumn Festival week. Or maybe for the Olympics. There were big statues of the Friendlies around too. The guy on the left actually teaches in Hangzhou, and went to Harvard. And knows Camille. Small world, huh?
I'm pretty sure it was that night that we went to play pool. Besides the first game, which has officially been stricken from the record, I didn't do so bad. Also, someone seems to have thought my nose was a pool cue. Sometimes, you just have to cut the English some slack, I guess. The two do look alike, I guess . . .
Anyway, that's Beijing. If you have more photos of the weekend, send them on and I'll expand the story.
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