Easter and the Great Wall

This year Jon and I spent part of Easter on the Great Wall. The whole setting was just beautiful, the mountains, the first signs of spring - it was actually warm and sunny. It was a wonderful place to be. To get to the wall, you can either take a gondola to the top of the ridge or you can climb the 1,000+ steps. (At least I think I heard it was more that 1,000 steps - I suppose I might be imagining that. Nevertheless, it was quite a climb.) No question about what these Wiebe's did. As soon as we got to the top of the wall we did what everyone else does and got out our camera. Unfortunately, our batteries died somewhere on the trip up - too many pictures of me looking tired and out of breath, I guess.

Jon decided he would go back down the mountain, get the spare batteries and come back up - because you don't go to the Great Wall not take pictures! I decided I would stay and enjoy the view. Our poor tour guide, Hiram, decided he would have to go too, so he could explain to the man taking tickets that he would need to get back in, etc. I was a little worried, he would refuse to be our guide the next day. Hiram was a good sport though - I think he thought Jon was really funny (and slightly crazy). Anyway, Jon had the joy of climbing the mountain twice - once, he got to run. I think that is a good day in his book.