Reply #71: the Great Wall of China

[Drum]

No, don't misunderstand me, I'm completely impressed by the thing itself, but the experience was not so good...

On tour in China, back in the mid '90s...we drove from Beijing. From 1/4 mile out of the "access" point our little bus was beset by hawkers and vendors, practically pushing souvenirs into our windows. This never let up, and when we finally could park and disembark we were mobbed with people selling us things. The entire entry point was full of tacky T-shirt vendors and stands, everyone straining to sell sell sell. The brief walk on the Wall itself was grand, but we just couldn't get beyond the crowds and the merchants. :(

You've gotta go a long looong way to get a view anything like this:


:shrug: