That damn alarm went off at 6.30 am this morning after a
late night and a ‘few’ beers; it was NOT appreciated. Had a look out the window
and not looking good for the wall, wet and raining. Jane not feeling well as
she just can’t shake the sore throat, headache thing. We showered and got ready
before heading down for breakfast so we could meet Alec and Helen at 7.45 to
head to the Wall. When we finished the weather was worse and visibility was
very poor, just then Alec WeChated to say maybe cancel the wall today and do
something else. The decision was made.
Jane took the opportunity to go back to bed for another hour
to hopefully feel better while I did a blog and tour searching. Found a private
tour to the wall tomorrow ( sunny and 28 forecast) so booked it. In the
meantime Alec had found the location of the China Locomotive Museum, just near
the Art 798 area we had visited the first time in Beijing and we agreed to head
there at 11 am as it was still wet and raining.
Jane awoke feeling better and we soon headed with Alec and
Helen to the Railway museum in another Didi ( China Uber). An interesting site, mainly just locomotives,
carriages and wagons in a huge shed with signs about the facts and specifications but very little
history. There was Mao's carriage and train, a little engine from 1881 from England and their first fast train but nothing at all about the history of railway in China like the museum in
Delhi, so not a real highlight but interesting enough all the same and at least dry.
It was then time for a bit of lunch so we headed to a place
Alec knew not far away which was opposite the Wainjing SOHO building complex
designed by Zaha Hadid, very impressive. Three curvilinear designed towers for
retail and office space. Lunch was a bit of Korean before heading by subway to
the Olympic Park complex and a walk in the Olympic Green Park. Had a look at the
Birds Nest stadium and a bit of a walk around now the sun was out and a pleasant day before heading to the park for a
stroll. Interesting were the men spinning tops in the park, no idea why but a bit of fun. It has a large lake in the middle and we decided to hire a boat for an
hour and just putt around; very relaxing and a bit of fun except for Alec
deciding to go under the fountain, luckily he got the wettest of all.
It was now after 5 pm so off to the subway and back to the
hotel, via a stop at Alec’s flat. The booking for the wall tour was confirmed for tomorrow morning as the forecast was good and likewise an Acrobatic performance tomorrow night we had arranged at lunch.
We shared a relaxing beer, before heading out to get a Jianbing and another
beer for dinner (something light) and then retiring to the room for the night
ready for the 7.30 am pickup tomorrow morning to FINALLY see the Great Wall.
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