![\"Escaltor.2\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Escaltor.2.jpg\")
<\/a> ![\"Escaltor.1\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Escaltor.1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>This tetrahedron shaped rock was the type used to stop the water flow. The Chinese did a lot of research to figure out the best design and fit for the base of the dam.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Description of the tetrahedron shaped rock<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s foggy\/misty, and we can\u2019t see much in the direction of the reservoir and dam, but the locks area is clear enough to view.\u00a0 We\u2019re told the Chinese army leveled five mountains to make way for the project.\u00a0 When the Chinese decide to do something, they have the available manpower to do it.\u00a0 We arrived fairly early on the site, but the crowds were not far behind.\u00a0 It begins to resemble Disneyland on Xmas day (although they don\u2019t handle crowds quite as well as Disney).<\/p>\n After our return to the boat, we have time to pack before the cruise enters the Xilong Gorge, the last of the Three Gorges.\u00a0 We sit on our balcony and take in the view.\u00a0 The river is much different below the dam.\u00a0 None of these homes had to relocated so the shoreline is more natural.\u00a0 There are beach areas that didn\u2019t exist above the dam, and older homes that have been taken care of.<\/p>\n When we dock and disembark, it\u2019s wild!\u00a0 Our driver comes frantically running on the boat looking for us, obviously in a hurry.\u00a0 He has a porter ready for our bags, and we hike up the steps to the parking area.\u00a0 There are cars and buses everywhere, honking and yelling fills the air.\u00a0 We make our way past numerous taxi drivers, aggressively offering their services.\u00a0 It\u2019s a relief to finally get to our vehicle.\u00a0 The driver inches through the traffic, honking and shouting with the rest of them.\u00a0 The road turns from dirt to paved and gradually widens as we move toward the city.\u00a0 Forty-five minutes later we\u2019re at the small Yichang airport, checking in.<\/p>\n Our flight gets off 10 minutes early (yes, early).\u00a0 The flight lands in Beijing at 7:30 pm, almost 30 minutes ahead of schedule.\u00a0 The airport seems almost empty.\u00a0 The taxi ride is without incident, and we are home by 8:30.<\/p>\n We had a great trip!\u00a0 The views on the cruise were dramatic, and our trip relaxing.\u00a0 We were closely watched everywhere we went on our boat, since there were so few foreigners.\u00a0 Sometimes we felt like we were in a fishbowl.\u00a0 We were always the first group off the boat for excursions, since we had to have a special guide that could translate.\u00a0 We weren\u2019t that impressed with the food.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had better Chinese food.\u00a0 Our German shipmates agreed the food quality was lacking, and they\u2019ve lived in China for over 10 years.\u00a0 The Chinese sure seemed to enjoy it.\u00a0 We\u2019ll probably try to travel outside China next year on this holiday.\u00a0 The crowds off the boats were big and tough to negotiate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019re up a little earlier than the past few days.\u00a0 We have an early excursion departure.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to view the Three Gorges Dam Project.\u00a0 When we depart the boat, we load buses, and are transported to an area built … Continue reading <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n