We've made it!

After leaving Gatwick at 8am on Sunday morning, we finally got to our hotel (which is luuuuuvvvley) at about 4:30pm on Monday afternoon. Our journey was particularly uneventful, our flights were on time, our bags did arrive and the taxi driver took us straight to the hotel (... so no need to worry anymore mums & jim )

Following a quick shower we met the rest of the group (8 in total) and headed out for dinner at one of the oldest resturants in Beijing for traditional Perking duck. By this time we were both pretty nacked, but after a few chinese beers and a couple of rounds of the name game later we were all as happy as larry!!

Today we were up early to go and see the Great Wall, which was about a 3 hour drive away by mini bus. It was brilliant, beautiful and very hot! Freya, Becki (from Oz) and i walked 12 of the Towers and back again, which was pretty hard going and i reckon we will all be dreaming of steps in our sleep tonight!

Beijing is really busy and constantly in a grey cloud, so it was lovely to get out today and see some actual blue sky. Our Manderin skills are coming along very slowly, but our guide is great and barters on our behalf... especially when we were all being badgered by local farmers who wanted to give us a tour of the Great wall.. and sell us postcards.. and water.. and hats...and generally just follow us the whole length!

Anyways the three of us are off again for our first meal on our own in Beijing this evening (definately going to look for a menu with pictures . Tomorrow we are going to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, then on Thursday we get the first of many train journeys to Xian.

Check in with you again soon

Lots of love ally and Freya!