David was kind enough to drive Jean, Jon and me to the Great Wall. I was so surprised by how steep the wall was in so many areas. Jean demonstrated that if you lean back as if you’re doing the limbo, it is easier to get down the steeper areas. She was right, though we looked quite silly in the process. The wall in Chinese actually translates into “Long Wall." That name seems more appropriate. I later learned that the wall was made up of a number of smaller walls separating the Chinese from intruders, but also separating areas within.
Traffic was awful driving back to the city. During the week the city has a system in place where people with odd number license plates drive on different days than even numbered license plates. However, anyone can drive on the weekend. We drove past the Olympic buildings, and we saw the National Stadium (aka Bird's Nest) as well as the National Aquatics Center (aka the Cube).
While Jean went to class, Jon and I went to see the Summer Palace (in the winter). Jon and I were stopped a few times for photos, which is always flattering. The palace made for a great walk with some nice views, though I do wonder how much nicer it is to visit in the summer.
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