Tianjin Train Station Plaza On the way to Beijing on the Bullet Train.
Tianjin, China train station is like every public place in China, LARGE. This train station is huge to say the least. The 6 of us usually travel in two taxi cabs. The trip to the station was no exception. The drivers dropped us off in two different locations and it took no less then three cell phone calls a mile or so of walking around for us to find one another.
Another View at the Station
When I say Large I am not exagerating one bit. This is just one of the buildings in this complex.
Riding With Shu Shu
Olivia rode Lou's scooter with me while we searched for Jan and Lou at the train station. Every child loves wheeled toys.
Tall Buildings
Not far from the plaza this very tall structure gives an idea how large some of them are in China. I lost count of the floors around 75 or so. Many of the apartment buildings are over 30 floors high and there are many hundreds in Tianjin and surrounding metropolis.
Finally !
Finally we find each other at the main entrance. Olivia was riding with me on Lou's scooter while we searched for them at the plaza. She really likes riding the scooters, even with a hairy wookie. I never determined who was in control of this scooter??
Upstairs
It is difficult to show the scale of a structure with photos but consider that the roof in the room is probably 40 or 50 feet high. It's a big place.
All Aboard!
We pass through the gates, go downstairs and board our assigned seats on this 10 car passenger train. Each car holds around 120 (I think). The trains leave exactly on time so if your are late, you dont make the trip.
Cruising at 330 KPH
Does it look like we are going 205 miles per hour? Well, it did not feel like it either. The bullet train between Beijing and Tianjin is three years old and rides smoother then most plane trips I have taken. They do not even have seat belts in the seats, so if you wreck at 205 m.p.h., kiss it good-bye... Olivia is so well behaved as to be scarey on these trips. She rode in my lap this entire train-ride.
More Comfort
As nice as the 30 minute one hundred mile train ride was, the van ride to the great wall was better. With better seats, more space, and the best air conditioning of any vehicle in China it was great.
Ray Charles She Is'nt
I think Olivia looks great in Joe's sunglasses. It takes slightly more than an hour from Beijing to the Great Wall and once again, Olivia had a great time on the way.
Food is Good
Olivia so wanted to use the chopsticks but if you look close you see she has no idea how to use them. Usually shu-shu feeds her. We stopped at a restaurant suggested by one of the guide's friends. It was terrific. I have no idea what we ate because in typical Joe fashion when asked what we wanted Joe responed, "Good Food." They brought "Great Food."
Closer to the Wall
This girl can sleep anywhere. Yes, she really is asleep.
At the Wall
Looking at the Great Wall makes me feel very young and that is hard to do now-a-days...
Some old, Some New
Parts of the wall have been restored using old material when available, parts are gone, and parts are falling down. However in places, it is doing well. In either case, it is a much more incredible feat then the Great Pyramid IMHO.
Like the Bunny
The wall keeps going, and going, and going, for several thousand miles. Most places we saw, it is between 20 and 30 feet high. At this location closer to 40 feet high because it was, and is, a main gate and fortress.
Popsicles
The universal language is not love, it is popsicles!
Part of the Fortress
This wall is part of this fort complex. Higher and thicker than most places.
Not Like the Bunny
This girl can sleep anywhere. Déjà vous? Looking at old walls and old people wears this girl out! It must be tough being a princess.