1st photo-The Oriental Pearl at night. 2nd-Old styles. The Museum
4th Beautiful porcelain.
Shanghi continued
The shuttle bus took us from the harbor to a silk and handy craft store. There we finally exchanged money. We’ve made a futile attempt at the bank of China were they wanted our passports in order to change the US currency to Chinese currency! We’ve and walked to the Shanghai Art Museum. This elegant building is designed as a 3 story circular stone vessel with two stone handles on the top of the rim, a replica of the famous bronze cooking pots that date back to the 21st century B.C. A view of the interior stairs from the third floor is a work of art in itself. There are multiple display sections, each devoted to a type of Chinese craft or art such as: the painting; ceramics; jaded carvings; bronze and the stone sculpture; and furniture.
After lunch we located a suite of knock off sales shops on the Nanging road. Barb thought it was in an attractive towered building, which we entered, only to see bustling activity of throngs of locals and white capped nurses and aids running around. We were in a health clinic! We showed the map and the Chinese word written on it to a nurse who quickly took us in to the back halls among the halt, the lame, the blind and the coughing. Barb began it to breathe through her scarf as I said we better get out before we catch something. At that moment a partial English speaking technician was found who with the nurse took us out to Nanging road, there he pointed east saying “three minutes walk, slowly”. We found it and a Coach purse for Barb’s bargain. In a smart looking retail mens clothing store, next door Barb had spotted a 3 button rust colored sport coat for Jim. After much meaningless talk about the price, credit cards and type of money, I tried it on and like Goldie Locks, it was “just right”. After a 50 percent discount the sale was complete. So I wore it to dinner, my lovely 48 dollars sport coat. We went to the 5 star Pudong Shangri La Hotel with Bette and Mac to a beautiful modern oriental room, serving Sechuan, Cantonese and Shanghai preparations. I was given that task, ordering: pickled bamboo shoots, marinated shrimp, barbecued pork starters; sweet and the sour fish soup; shrimp in roe, spicy chicken; strips of tender bamboo shoots in green sauce; specialty fried rice and that mango and sago dessert with the assistance by our waitress Lilliane. All Chinese have an English name they use with us foreigners. For a nitecap we shot up to the Jade lounge on the 36 th floor. There we overlooked the glittering lights of Shanghai.
The next day before departing, we rode the magnetic levitation train. It took us from the train station to the new International Airport in the Pudong area in seven minutes and 20 seconds, reaching 430 kilometers per hour, about 258 mph. From the train station we visited the Oriental Pearl TV tower & rapidly ascended to the observation globe (one of the pearls) at 900 feet elevation. There we had a grand view of old and new Shanghai and it’s harbor. It is an unbelievable sight. After feasting our eyes we said goodbye, until the world Expo in 2010.
Next-Hong Kong-on March 9th.
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