Our Welcome Wagon this am

This is what greeted us

Downtown Shanghai

The Bund (Waterfront)

Hall where the first communist meeting was held

Pearl TV Antenae

Hyatt elevator looking down from observatory

Steve, Becky, Jim, Me and Bill in the Bund

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Shanghai, China

We arrived in Shanghai, China and just made it in.  The fog was so dense they closed the port right after us.  In fact we were in the river on the way in when they closed the port to any other ships!

We had a tour Shanghai Old and New and what can I say.  Our guide Jason was hysterical he could be a stand up comedian.  We were told about all the problems in China.  How it was great before 1950 and from 1950-1980 it was horrible here the living conditions were terrible.  no one had a private bathroom only public toilets.  1980 brought about changes and it is still evolving today.  Captialism is alive and well and he predicts that you will see a democracy in his lifetime. He said that the Chinese people are followers and need someone to lead them it would cause too much chaos right now for the older people if they were able to vote!  But he says the younger people are ready for it and will embrace it!!!!!  

The city itself was fogged in and rainy and cold but it is one of the cleanest cities I have seen.  We went to the Bund area which is the waterfront area.  They built a lovely wall to keep the city from flooding.  After that we drove around the French area.  The shops here were extremely expensive and real estate also.  Of course here they had a Rolls Royce, Lamborgini and some other high end car dealerships!

Our next stop was the Pearl TV Antenae.  It was completed in 1994.  Jason said all households now have tvs. All apartments come furnished with 2 or three bedrooms, western bathrooms, kitchen and family room.  They have microwaves as well.  Life is better now than before he said.  

Our next stop was the Mao Tower the highest building in all China.  We took an elevator straight up from the basement to the 88th floor and it was the quietest elevator I have ever been on.

Unfortunately, the view was not great it was better than if we came there first but still very foggy!

There is a Grand Hyatt and you look down onto the elevator from the 88th floor.  Nice view.  We saw their Wall Street.  They even have a huge bronze bull statue!

Tonight we have a World Cruise Event at the Shanghai Science Musuem.  Will report about that tomorrow.

Our guide Jason taught us Chinese he said he speaks Chinglish!  He taught us hello and thank you.  He then taught us you’re welcome (bullshit) .  Of course I can’t remember all the funny things he said if I do I will report it later.  

This is a really nice city and not anything I would have imagined.  We have an over night here and have an all day tour tomorrow to an ancient city and silk factory!Have to do my hair and get ready so have a great day.

I just was awed by Shanghai it was a clean pretty city!  Jason said there is a lot of work to be done.  Places we did not see are not all that nice yet but they are working on it!  He said they are copying US.  They want a government like the US in time!  It was a truly cosmopolitan city and I really enjoyed it!

That’s all folks!