Started the day early as...05:30 pick up to set out for the Great Wall of china. We decided to book our transportation through the hotel..it probably cost us more but we we're that sick of being lost and not understanding it seemed worth it!
Headed 3 hours outside of Beijing to the janshanling area of the wall. When we arrived 2 Mongolian farmer women latched onto us. Most people caught the cable car up the side of the mountain but 5 of us decided to walk up.
I'd never quite decided how I was going to feel about the Great Wall of china. Was it going to be "just a wall" or was it going to be worthy of it's title as one of the wonders of the world.. All I ever knew is that one day I'd come to Beijing myself and decide.
It certainly is the latter. I get a little emotional just writing about it..100% one of those moment where I had to pinch myself. Not sure if it's more poinient now it's pretty much the end of the trip and the final bucket list item I had on the itinerary but it was just amazing. Think it was so special as we had beautiful weather too, blue skies and good visibility. A little breathless when we first reached the wall you just sit and look at how far it stretches in both directions are far as your eyes can see with huge valleys of mountains and hills either side.
It simply is just stunning. We walked and walked taking millions of photos. All 5 of us swapping travelling stories. And English couple who we're on their 4th time travelling - weirdly he was a policeman and she was a nurse and a man from Glasgow who now lives in Singapore.
After walking for quite some time we reached a really steep part which we all clambered up using our hands and found a 77 year old Mongolian farmer seller beer. This was definitely a beer moment. As we had to factor in coming back on ourself as the simatai section of the wall was closed we decided this was as far as we'd go. So we brought some beers and sat with our legs dangling over the edge of the wall with quite the drop beneath us admiring quite possibly one of the best sites I've ever seen. Spent about 40 minutes just sat looking and talking and watching the few people pass.
Amazing part was at times you really we're the only people on that section of the wall you felt like you had it to yourself not like the pictures I'd seen of say badaling section where you couldn't even move.
The way back down was a little tricky. I quickly established my converse has zero grip as I slid down the wall and had to hold the hand of the old lady that had been following us. On the way back down as we'd expected they wanted us to buy souvenirs, t shirts an books etc. mart asked if they had postcards as I wanted some and we really only had about 30yuen on us. She said no postcards so mart gave her what we had anyway. However she was quite persistent we brought a tshirt, she started prodding mart..he does NOT like to be touched! The others brought tshirts but the cheeky woman when we got back down to the visitor centre pulled out some postcards she had in the bag! Still didn't give me one.
We had some lunch then set off for the journey back to Beijing. Had a funny conversation with the Scottish man about the different category of travels you meet. You have the just turned 18 out in the big wide world for the first time...the 21-24 just finished Uni and needing a break and the 25+ Year olds who he amuZing described as the "f*** it" category.

We went to find the temple of heaven the final day..so busy! Lovely though..however we took a wrong turning and Jesus we walked and walked and after the wall yesterday my legs hurt so much :(
However we went to a market and got me some Nike trainers for £10! Then walked some more. Then some more. Ate the BIGGEST pizza in the world with Peking duck on it then made our way home and had some drinks with our American friends.
Asked the hotel earlier about getting a taxi to the airport at 4am they told is to just come down at 4 and they'd call us one. As usual we went down and she replied "no sort it yourself". Nearly throttled her..left us standing outside desperately trying to flag down every taxi..standard as they don't speak English they just kept driving off. By some miracle mart flagged down someone stopped at some lights and managed to negotiate airport with him and he let us pay by meter (that's the cheapest way). Flight isn't even full so also got exit seats all round result!
we're off to our FINAL destination! Dubai bound...absolutely thrilled that we're being picked up and looked after and fed..no more stress planning researching or worrying just a nice relaxing break with my best friends before crying all the way back to England.