headed up to the cable lift. We rode the cable car up to the
midpoint at tower 14.
As we got to the top of the hillside. We stood taking pictures,
what spectacular views. As I was taking a picture of Joe, a
female voice asked if she could take a picture we me in my
panda hat. When I looked up there were 4 girls wearing baby
panda hats. We got all excited, so I yelled out to my fellow
panda boys and we all took this picture. To think somebody else had the same idea was so cool.
Northern part of the country side (see above map). History
note the wall was constructed in the North to keep out the
neighboring Mongolians from invading China. Now each
tower, back in the day, held a garrison of 2 or more
warriors who would protect that portion of the wall. They
would live in the tower for a certain amount of days, then
rotated. Using fire at night and smoke during the day.
They would signal other towers of impending threats.
As we contemplated walking the journey up to the top of tower 23, Mr. Mighty "Joe" Young was totally gun hoe to do it. I guess doing the treadmill everyday prior to the trip had him feeling mighty youthful and strong. That or he discovered another side effect for the blue pill.
After the most intemse climb to the top, we all worked ourselves back down via the cable cars to the vendor market. We did some shopping with the local vendors haggling our prices down as we saw fit.
PANDA HOUSE - Being inspired by the Panda, we left to go to visit our bretheran at the zoo. We spoted for some delicious popcorn. There were 7 Pandas at the zoo in total. They are magistic creatures, who live a sollitary life untill mating. We became an overnight success as we were being stopped frequently to pose for a picture. We went to see this hugh snub nosed monkey encased in a glass habittat. We were asked by a couple from Australia if we could pose for a panda picture.
FIRST FLOOR BAR - That evening being out last one in Beijing. We decided to clean up and head out to check out another bar area called Shiolin. We got off the cab and walked about. The bars were very low keyed for a Monday night. But we were feeling the need for a local beer. We went into one spot where there was a band singing in Chinese. We had a beer and sat for the entertainment. It got boring quiickly as vibe was not there. We exited again and walked about some more. I tell you the Chinese are not without capitalist influence. There were many high end stores all about, from Tiffany's to Dulce to Bertulli's. We got to this another bar cause we heard the music pumping. But after being asked to pay to sit at a table we exited stage left. Finally we ended up across the street at a place called "1st Floor". Here the vibe was better, music was nice more like R&B. We rolled up to the bar and our first of many beers. Meeting people from all over. At various times we had to go outside for some air cause the Chinese love to smoke and there is no restrictions. So while Joe and I were out side. A guy rolled up to Joe and asked him if he wanted some weed. Joe's face was priceless. I was cracking up. Then Angel came out for some air and left Mr. social bunny inside talking to a nce couple from Holland. Note we are standing at the entrance to the outside portion of the bar. Angel had me cracking up as he started Welcoming everyone passing by inviting them into the bar. At one point I told him to start asking for some ID like we did once in NY. We made the night with peoples reactions. Angel then went back inside for a beer refill. Joe and I stood outside as I could see that the smoke was irritating Joe. One group of about 8 Chinese youths came up to me and asked how was te vibe inside. Was it better than that of the place around the corner call '2nd Floor'. I told him yes it was good and that we had some tables in the back area. Not quite convinced they walked around the corner to the 2nd Floor bar About 15min later they came back. He asked I can get them a table I told them no cause the last table I had reserved for them was taken. They walked away and Joe looked at me in total amazement then began to laugh.
As the night went on I knew Joe was trying to hang and he was but the smoke was really getting to him. So I told Angel and Jose that Joe and I were going to head back. Joe and I walked back up to the Main Street to hale a cab. We must have been there for about a half hour. The cab drivers were trying to hustle us. We paid 30yuen for all 4 of us to get there from the hotel. Now they wanted 100yuen to go back. Some didnt even recognize the name of the hotel. Joe and I literally had to walk to the nearest hotel to ask the concierge if they could write down our hotel name in Chinese. We went back out and still had no luck. I said to Joe lets go back and pull our troops out. I felt like Obmana LOL. I didn't want them to have the same experience especially when we had an early rise with checking out and traveling to Shanghai. We to back to the bar and the fellas were shocked as we told them the situation. So we decided to call it a night and tr to collectively get our butts back to the hotel. While walking to the Main Street we came across a few cab drivers who again were trying to hustle us. Now the new hustle was that they couldn't take us 4 in one cab and had to split and take 2 @ 100yuen each. But again God is good when a Good Samaritan, who was walking buy with some friends. Saw we were having a communication gap with the drivers and she reversed the hustle. She was a german student studing here. She was able to convince te driver to take us 4 for 100yuen. We were grateful and piled into the cab. The driver took off down the narrow streets toward the Main Street. When a truck decide to come down the same street we were on. Sidebar: the chinese drivers here are "C-R-A-Z-Y" aggressive drivers (they make Jose and Andy together look like novices, Brigiette shhe would have had to seek theraphy for life) but yet always seem so quite and docile. So now we are trying to squeeze are way passed this truck. When we heard the truck driver say something to our cabby. Our cabby responded with a loud "Fuk You", Yu Moter Fuker. We were all taken back and the inner hood came out. So we all yelled our own version back at the driver. Afterwhich got through and were histerically laughing in the car. So much so that it gave Jose the urge to pee. By this time we were getting close to our hotel. Jose's urge got stronger and he started to sweat asking the driver to pull over. We were nearing the forbiden city area and Jose was pleading to stop cause he had to go. All you heard was "I gotta pee I gotta pee" We were convincing him that we couldnt stop in front of the Chinese most sacred city surrounded by police for him to pee. He didnt give a shit. Finally we found a spot and he ran into the bushes to relieve himself. We cracked up when got back in.
We called it a night
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