A short update

After trying several different combinations of trying to get on the internet without any success, realized that Google and China are oil and water.  Since this blog is a google product, I couldn't access it or do anything to it.  Hence, nothing being posted while in China.  Then there was a little problem with a sciatic nerve flare up and all I could really do was cope and didn't have any energy to devote to blogging besides which we were really busy off doing things.
Melodie is keeping up so you can always check her blog and know the low down and see her beautiful pictures.

So, here is what I wrote while in Shanghai -

Full day in Shanghai

A night of sleep and am feeling human again.  Feeling human means looking for breakfast.  There is a HUGE buffet with foods to appeal to the tastes of people from many cultures.  There are the basics of fruit, yogurt,  cereals, breads and rolls.  The Western breakfast bar area with fried eggs, potatoes, bacon, beef and chicken sausage, French toast, bread pudding, fried bread dough.  Then there’s the Asian area with fried rice, miso and a bunch of other things that I didn’t recognize.  There was also an area that it looked like they were making crepe like delicacies.  Need to check that one out more tomorrow. 

The place was full of Sinorama tour people.  Most of them are French speaking Canadians.  We don’t find an empty table but a nice couple invited us to join them  at a table outside as they were leaving soon.  Quite a satisfying breakfast and way to start the day.

We met up with our group that we will be spending the next two weeks with.  There are 20 of us.  Eight of us are from the States – 4 from the Seattle area, a mother and daughter from Pennsylvania and St Paul and Melodie and me.  A Canadian from Ghana and her husband, a couple from Australia and I’m a bit fuzzy on the others as they sat at a different table at lunch. 

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On the hour long ride to the Shanghai museum, our guide shared interesting facts about Shanghai.  You have to read Melodie’s blog to find out what they were as she was taking notes.  Shanghai is huge!  21 million with about 3 ½ million that they call floaters – people coming and going by air, land and sea.  Oh, found out how we were so far from the airport and yet there were planes flying right over  head at our hotel.  There are 2 airports in Shanghai. 

First stop is the Shanghai museum.  Four floors of amazing stuff and we have an hour to see it all.  Our guide recommended that we start at the top and work our way down.  He also recommended the display of furniture from the Ming and Quing dynasties and the bronze section.  The first gallery on the top floor was dedicated to regional dress.  I could easily have spent all my time there. 

The next gallery was carved jade.  It was interesting to watch the ornateness and craftsmanship improve through the years.  The furniture gallery held ornately carved chairs, cabinets, tables.  Such beautiful, peaceful areas are created. 

  The area devoted to bronze objects and how they are made was extensive. 

Our hour is up and we didn’t even get to browse in the gift shop.

Onward to our next adventure of the day.  A museum showing how the silk worms are raised and the silk is processed.  This is a state run facility so very similar to the one I visited back in 2004 with the Tritt teachers – even found the same duvet pattern that  I bought in 2004.  Still beautiful.  Melodie bought the silk comforter but resisted the sheets and pillow cases.  There were also silk rugs and clothing.  What a tactile heaven.

Lunch time  on the Bund (river front)  -  All of the Sinorama tours seem to go to the same restaurant and they are set up and expecting us.  They bring out about 8 different dishes, a big bowl of rice and place them on the large lazy susan in the middle of table.  We all dig in.  There is sweet and sour soup, pork nugget kind of things, Fried fish pieces, an onion dish, a cabbage dish, black mushrooms and I think a few others.  All very good.  We get a taster size glass of beer (If you call the exotic foreign beer, Bud light) a beer) with our meal.

After lunch, we had a leisurely walk on the Bund.  Across the river is the financial district with beautiful tall buildings.  A nice breeze and people enjoying themselves. Several bridal couples getting their pictures taken.  Very few refreshment stalls but numerous photo stalls.  We walked several blocks and then walked back on a lower level closer to the street.  This is where the older financial area is.  We crossed the street to enter the  China Merchant’s bank .  The sense of history was strong.  The guards were very aware of us as we entered and indicated that we weren’t to take pictures. 

The day continues with a visit to an embroidery demonstration and shop.  Well, that’s right up my alley.  A short demonstration of the art and then looking at the pieces for sale.  To us, it is a museum and not a shopping opportunity.  The pieces are incredible.  Some look like photographs until you get up close, others like oil paintings.  Oh, and more  silk rugs to touch.

Next stop is the big shopping street of Shanghai,  Cute little trolleys are running down the middle of the pedestrian mall.  High end international stores abound but we’re not interested in those.  We’re tired and need a break so enjoy a mint soft ice cream cone in a comfortable place for people watching.  On the way back to the meeting place, we wander down a side street and into a tea shop.  I fall in love with an ornate tea cup that has it’s own steeping basket.  $15!  I’ll take it. 

We meet back up with the group and go to  a huge place for dinner before the acrobat show.  We end up at a table with 8 people from Montreal who mostly speak French.  The food was served in the same manner as lunch but wasn’t as good. 

Back to the bus to go to the show.  It is held in an auditorium in the       Hotel , which is where the Clintons stayed while visiting Shanghai,  The show is good – mostly balancing acts, a magician.  It was good, entertaining but not up to Cirque du Soleil at all.