Shanghai – 2012

We took the high speed (190 MPH) train from Beijing to Shanghai.  Wow – it was much better than flying.  The train had stewardesses.  Seating was roomy, plush and comfortable.

190 MPH in comfort!

TWO HUMOROUS STORIES

1. Our hotel in Shanghai was excellent!  Breakfast was all one could ask for.  One day as we were eating breakfast and looking out the window we saw a man waving his arms in an excited manner and apparently shouting.  I turned to Barb and said “They have crazies here too.”  When we got outside, the man was still shouting, but in Italian.  He was leading a tour group and yelling “Andiamo” like a true Italian with arms waiving.
2. I read the safety instructions on our elevator.  I have included them for your perusal.

 SHANGHAI DAYS

Daytime view from our hotel

Traffic was mind boggling.    There was new construction mile after mile after mile.

New buildings were being constructed all around us.  Many of unique and interesting architecture.  Note the building on the right in the picture below.  It is the World Trade Center Building, but the locals all it “The Bottle Opener.”

Sometimes we almost forgot we were in China

SHANGHAI NIGHTS

Shanghai is lit up in the evening for viewing from the shore or from a night cruise.  The passengers on the cruise we were on were predominantly Chinese.

The view from our hotel room.

The cruise did not offer dinner and the sole entertainment (unlike the Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul) was the magnificent views of the Shanghai skyline at night which was enough.

JADE

Our tour in Shanghai included a stop at a Jade factory.  I was fascinated how several stone balls were carved inside each other so that they were free floating.  Visiting the showroom was like visiting a museum.

GARDENS

Emperors and affluent/powerful Chinese often had their own special gardens,

SILK

As I say in other places, tours usually include a stop where you are offered local goods.  One such stop was the Silk Museum in Shanghai.

It is hard to believe this beautiful gown started out with a worm.

The silk worms dine on eucalyptus leaves and grow fat.

Then they spin a cocoon.  The best are when 2 worms share a cocoon.

The cocoon is then stretched into silk web before it is spun into thread.

We purchased a silk sheet and love it!  It is light, but warm in the winter, and comfortable in the summer.