We got a taxi to the centre of town an d got on the red tour guide bus. We decided that was the best option for one day.
It was such a beautiful spring day too. For the first time we felt really relaxed. God, did we deserve it!
We had to take the ferry across the river to the BUND and Puxi district. The ferry was great. Decorated with beautiful pictures of women of the 20s. We found out later that these women were the prostitutes of the time.
There were also lots of cute kids and their parents on a day out. it was a bonus being a Saturday. We didn't get back on the bus we just strolled along the Bund. (Check it out on line.) it sure is an amazing site. Renovated buildings from the time of the French and the Brits on one side and huge skyscrapers on the other. Really impressive! This is a working city too. Boats full of coal were powering up the river. You could just feel the life and energy of this place yet it also felt relaxed, safe and well cared for. Most impressively everywhere was so clean. People here are rightly proud of their city.
We then got back on the red bus and went right round the city. Seeing some amazing sites. I it's such a shame I can't connect my phone to my iPad. We went to a pop up dumpling making area which was absolutely packed. We ordered some noddles of unknown origin but they tasted good and didn't make us sick.
We then, just by luck ended up for the afternoon in Yu Yuan gardens. What a find. Totally amazing and really beautiful. We had a tea ceremony in the oldest tea house in Shanghai. We watched the girl pour hot water over the tea pets.(wooden dragons) for luck. The tea was good too.
We saw gingo Bilbao in blossom and it smelt lovely. We saw amazing magnolia trees and lots of renovated temples and pools and bridges. It really was lovely in the beautiful sunshine.
About 4.30 we headed off to find Caterina Tombolini, an old student from lake, who now works in Shanghai. We were going to take the metro but couldn't find the nearby stop so we ended up making a rash decision and getting on the back of a policeman's scooter. We raced through the traffic at break neck speed. It was funny as hell, but a bit hair raising too. We didn't know if he would try and abduct us but Carmel convinced me that if this were to happen, she would be able defend us. Luckily it didn't and feeling wind sweept we arrived at the oldest temple in Shanghai at 5pm. On time to meet Caterina. This was great, her Chinese is excellent and we went off for dim sum in a really swish place. They really were delicious. I'm not really a Chinese dumpling kinda girl normally but this was a totally different kind of experience. Unfortunately my camera lost power about 2pm so I don't have any photos but to be honest, letting go of a camera and just looking about is sometimes a good thing.
Unfortunately I was absolutely exhausted by 7pm and full of cold but the good news is that it seems to be better today! Thank god. I was really not looking forward to flying off with an awful stinking cold. I'd be deaf for days. Right time to board. Bye.
More Shanghai photos from that Saturday:
More Shanghai photos from that Saturday:
My favourite photo of the skyline taken through the back seat car window
I found the pony picture on the ferry most interesting!
Futuristic start to our bus ride round the city
Chinese characters are engraved into the mounds of coal.
More coal and more coal.
one of the many strange signs.
and more coal
grandparents and grandchild. Lots of little girls wore really frilly dresses and coats.
Bums have to covered in fruh fruh.
locals having a chat
it wasn't very modal but it was OK for a public lav.
some powerful big wig immortalised forever
local street with lots of wires with a back drop of the powerful city
shopping centres.
shopping area. all done up to look old but all so new!!
An older looking area snapped quickly from the bus
looked a bit more original.
Carmel enjoying the sun.
The Shanghai design museum. When i go again I will go inside this place.
A tree as a washing line
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