Getting ready to hike up to the cable cars.
DSC_1824
|
Alex and me in the cable car.
DSC_1836
|
Andy and Owen in the cable car.
DSC_1835
|
Owen in the cable car with the Great Wall behind him.
DSC_1838
|
Owen entering the wall.
DSC_1844
|
About to walk up the steps to the wall.
DSC_1841
|
Owen, shooting an imaginary arrow through the ramparts. I'm going to guess that he missed his target, considering he's shooting with his left hand...and he's right-handed.
DSC_1852
|
The Great Wall is said to be 5,500 miles long. However, only portions of it have been restored. Most of it lies in ruin.
DSC_1850
|
The wall is about 21 feet wide.
DSC_1858
|
DSC_1870
|
Behind me is one of the towers. The towers are spaced 100-200 meters apart. They served as signal towers, forts, living quarters, ad storerooms for provisions.
DSC_1863
|
DSC_1875
|
Another watchtower. Alex is in the red shirt. He was walking with our tour guide, Sisi, and talking her ear off.
DSC_1871
|
DSC_1880
|
A rare shot of Andy and me. I'm starting to let Owen take some pictures with my camera.
DSC_1885
|
DSC_1888
|
One good thing about having a tour guide? You have someone on hand to take family photos :)
DSC_1886
|
Andy on one the balcony of one of the towers.
DSC_1895
|
It was 95 degrees and they were still going strong.
DSC_1891
|
DSC_1893
|
Owen and me on the balcony of one of the towers.
DSC_1889
|
Owen in a tower.
DSC_1897
|
DSC_1903
|
More family photos thanks to our tour guide, Sisi.
DSC_1905
|
One more, just for good measure.
DSC_1916
|
Owen and Alex on top of a tower.
DSC_1909
|
Alex, still going strong. Owen, taking a rest.
DSC_1912
|
DSC_1914
|
FINALLY, we made it to the luge ride down the mountain. This is what the boys were waiting for, and by far their favorite part of the whole Great Wall experience. And yes, I'm aware that that's an unfortunate placement of the brake lever between Andy's legs.
DSC_1918
|
