Spending the day in Shanghai
After lounging in the hotel room as long as possible this morning and enjoying our complimentary breakfast (which was really quite fancy), we took to the streets of Shanghai. Since we had limited time before our overnight train left in the evening, we couldn't do a whole lot of sightseeing. We did, however, mangage to make it to the Yu Yuan garden and to the oceanside where the Shanghai skyline is in full view. Both were spectacular.
The Yu Yuan garden is a section of Shanghai that keeps traditional Chinese architecture all around. There are several Buddhist temples located in the area, and there are sections that are enclosed for pedestrian traffic only. There are vendors selling things in every nook and cranny. We even got invited into some secret alleyway closets to look at knockoff designer purses and wallets for sale.
One of my favorite moments from the day was the throng of Chinese tourists who couldn't stop staring at Sophia and I. It really was hysterical, especially because they were all talking very animatedly to one another about me and the baby. I made Peter take a picture of the event.
Other things that struck me today about Shanghai: the public toilets charge you to go inside. It costs 50 Chinese cents (about 6 US cents) and it allows you one small square of paper. I can't even call it toilet paper since it was so rough. The toilets are nothing more than covered holes in the ground. It's not an experience I care to repeat. We had some extra time before boarding the train, so we stopped in at a McDonald's (they are everywhere) and had a meal. The whole thing cost less than $5 US dollars for the three of us.
The Orient Express
Our train departure was scheduled for 10 PM. Dragging luggage and baby to the station, jet lagged and tired, we made it an hour early. A ragged man with a beat up hand cart approached us and we agreed to pay him 30 yuan for escorting us and our luggage to the train. It was the best money we spent all day. He was able to take us the back way (hauling all our luggage down three flights of stairs in three different trips), allowing us not to wait in the crowded line. The journey to the train would have felt unbearable without him.
We settled into our compartment...equipped with 6 beds, three high on a side. They were narrow enough to only hold one reasonable sized adult laying down. I am just barely reasonably sized (height and width). Peter's mom was smart to get us reservations for the bottom two and one on the second level. There is a pillow and a blanket for each bed, a small table and a hot water thermos on the floor. Across from the beds under the opposite window are two small chairs that fold up when noone is sitting in them and a small tray under the window.
We made our way north through China, and though Sophia cried off and on through the night, the trip is a success. It was great to be greeted by Peter's dad, brother and cousin when we reached the other side!
The Yu Yuan garden is a section of Shanghai that keeps traditional Chinese architecture all around. There are several Buddhist temples located in the area, and there are sections that are enclosed for pedestrian traffic only. There are vendors selling things in every nook and cranny. We even got invited into some secret alleyway closets to look at knockoff designer purses and wallets for sale.
One of my favorite moments from the day was the throng of Chinese tourists who couldn't stop staring at Sophia and I. It really was hysterical, especially because they were all talking very animatedly to one another about me and the baby. I made Peter take a picture of the event.
Other things that struck me today about Shanghai: the public toilets charge you to go inside. It costs 50 Chinese cents (about 6 US cents) and it allows you one small square of paper. I can't even call it toilet paper since it was so rough. The toilets are nothing more than covered holes in the ground. It's not an experience I care to repeat. We had some extra time before boarding the train, so we stopped in at a McDonald's (they are everywhere) and had a meal. The whole thing cost less than $5 US dollars for the three of us.
The Orient Express
Our train departure was scheduled for 10 PM. Dragging luggage and baby to the station, jet lagged and tired, we made it an hour early. A ragged man with a beat up hand cart approached us and we agreed to pay him 30 yuan for escorting us and our luggage to the train. It was the best money we spent all day. He was able to take us the back way (hauling all our luggage down three flights of stairs in three different trips), allowing us not to wait in the crowded line. The journey to the train would have felt unbearable without him.
We settled into our compartment...equipped with 6 beds, three high on a side. They were narrow enough to only hold one reasonable sized adult laying down. I am just barely reasonably sized (height and width). Peter's mom was smart to get us reservations for the bottom two and one on the second level. There is a pillow and a blanket for each bed, a small table and a hot water thermos on the floor. Across from the beds under the opposite window are two small chairs that fold up when noone is sitting in them and a small tray under the window.
We made our way north through China, and though Sophia cried off and on through the night, the trip is a success. It was great to be greeted by Peter's dad, brother and cousin when we reached the other side!
posted by Donielle @ 11:09 AM
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