Friday started at 7:30am with a pick-up in what appeared to be a 70′s era van for our trip to the Great Wall. The drive to the wall took us through parts of Beijing we had not yet seen, past lots of office buildings, high rises, some residential areas with apartments and Spanish style homes. At one point, the van stopped for a fireworks display in the street, celebrating what exactly we are not sure, but it was followed by a bunch of cars with similar decorations.

We visited the Mutianyu part of the Great Wall, the newest section built by the Ming Dynasty in the 1600s. There was a cable car available up to the wall, but you know us. Ryan and I hiked up to the 10th tower and then walked along the wall till about the 19th tower. The weather was absolutely beautiful. The wall is pretty amazing and offered some wonderful views. As Ryan wondered though, was the wall really needed? It seems like the mountains in this section would have been enough of a deterrent.
            

Ryan captured some of the interesting creatures found atop the towers.
            

The drive home was an adventure. Drivers here are absolutely crazy, and pretty much anything goes; driving on the sidewalks, driving on the wrong side of the road (at least until someone coming the other direction starts honking at you). And lots and lots of honking. Pedestrians also better watch out, cause they definitely get last priority. The cars here are very similar to in the U.S., fewer SUVs and pickups than in Texas, but many Audi A4s, Q5s, BMW X5s, 7 Series, and lots of VWs. They are definitely addicted to the American style of transportation.

After the long day at the wall, we grabbed some street food outside our hostel for dinner. We both tried some meatballs, egg soufflé like things, glazed fruit on a stick, and a fried starfish, though I later regretted eating most of it (no major sickness, just slight yucky feeling).