Day 2 - Crafty shops and We Are Heroes!

Today is pretty much described by the picture you see. Traffic and waiting were the name of the game. In fact, I'm writing this from the bus on my BlackBerry while we're stopped in a parking lot at a Great Wall site behind at least 7 other buses. Those are only what we can see. As this is a National Holiday weekend, think about showing up to Disney World on Christmas or Washington DC during the Bicentennial. That's what it feels like. Everyone wanted to get to the Great Wall today, and 2 lane freeways turned into 4 lane parking lots.

First thing of the day was an International Church service. You have to show a passport that you are a foreigner to be allowed in. Much like many church plants back in the US, it was held in some sort of an auditorium with stadium seating. A very diverse group of people from all over the world, but thankfully the service was in English - http://bicf.org

Next was a Jade factory where it was pretty much like the Pearl store we failed to mention yesterday. They give you some info as a group about their craft, tell you how to spot fakes, and then guarantee their's is authentic. Then it's into huge showrooms where many employees follow you around, as politely as a pushy sales person can be, to ask if you would like to try something on or view something from a case.

Pretty much the same thing with a Cloisonne place before lunch. We did succumb to the pressure with a nice Ox ornament (her Chinese birth year) for Lyla.

Then it was back in the traffic and an extremely slow journey to the Great Wall in the incredible traffic. Once we made it to the Great Wall section at Juyong Guan, we scaled a steep section shoulder to shoulder with people all of the world. Several photos to come, I promise.

As I have been writing, we moved maybe 10 feet! We're on the way!

Sent on my Sprint BlackBerry