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After last nights failed attempt to find a high altitude cocktail, we are determined to see the heady heights of Shanghai today.
Starts off well with toast and coffee on the roof of the hotel overlooking the sky scrapers. Then we head straight to the BUnd. Wow. It's such a contrast from the European style buildings on the bund to the 100+ storey towers of all shapes over the river. We pottered along the bund passing bridalwear photoshoots, and watching massive cargo ships sail down the river. At one point we were climbing on a wall to have a quick look (pap) at the old British consulate, when a security man started striding towards us. We hopped off the wall and waddle off as quickly as our flip flops would take us.
After a brief pitstop for an icedcoffee we head to the "bund sightseeing tunnel". Our previous thought of shanghai being a relatively normal city, without the usual Chinese hilarity was smashed when we had this little adventure. Bright lights, music and images flash before you as you pass through the "meteor storm" and other audiovisual delights in your "pod". We hop out the other side (pudong, the financial centre), and soon realise that the sensible french proportions of the bund were ignored when the town planners sorted out this side of the river. Everything is Chinese (Beijing) sized again. We head for the shanghai financial centres Park Hyatt Hotel (by taxi, of course, theres no dealing with these proportions on your feet), and zoom up on the ear-popping lift to the 91st floor where our watermelon juice and the amazing view is much enjoyed (and photographed). Gemma had particular fun when spending 20 minutes testing all of the automated toilet functions in the overly fancy bathroom!
When catching the ferry back to the bund we accidentally got the wrong one, allowing us a bund river cruise for 20p when the "proper" cruise wanted to charge us an extortionate 12quid. Perfect. Landed on our feet once more. we finally caught the right ferry back to where we had intended, we went to check out"M on the bund", and decided as we had missed lunch, to return for a farewell cocktail brunch on Sunday (what a shame).
We caught a taxi to the French concession to see the communist propaganda museum. Had a chat with our english-speaking taxi driver who freely admits that he hates the english (and the french but who doesn't) and thinks there are far too many of us In Shanghai! He particularly disapproves of 'them' going 'there' whilst he points with his finger at the first church we have seen in 2 weeks.
Museum is Absolutely amazing. Tracks the communist party's history with hundreds of original posters on display, and surprisingly, for sale. Nic loved the
Gift shop (communist birthday present coming your way dad) and Gemma tried to recall a level history knowledge about the cold war to fit all the pieces together....brain exhaustion.
After kitting ourselves with some vintage mao merchandise, we hop in a taxi to another area of the French concession, which was essentially a massive shopping centre. We enjoyed the hilarious shop names and made a few more purchases (gemma now has enough tea and tea related paraphenalia to take on the national trust-one of today's purchases was an overpriced plastic purple teapot - sorry tea bottle- which gemma is besotted with), before heading on the metro to the old town again. Taking public transport seemed an unthinkable decision considering our recent taxis-only lifestyle, but after half an hour of increasing frustration at failing to flag down a cab in the rain, even Gemma agreed that it was our only option.
the old town looked completely different all lit up but was even more rammed than before....and Gemma managed to further add to her tea collection (she can now take on Lipton).
We had a (?d+v inducing...pick your own...luke warm.... Substandard....Our mothers will be tutting... off a buffet...maybe not the best choice?), dinner looking across at a great view of the extortionate tea house then walked to the bund. Wow. Even more amazing by night with multicoloured lights on all the towers of pudong and even pictures on one of them. Sought a lychee Cosmo from a snazzy rooftop bar (called new heights at 3 on the bund), overlooking the river and rested our tired feet!
After a bazillion shots of the view had been captured, we head off to get a taxi home. Easier said than done as its super busy and the taxis love driving past ignoring you. Finally catch one and make it bak to our hotel for a well earnt sleep. Only after Gemma has looked through the tea stuff once again, categorised according to flavours, resorted, packed away, unpacked to look again, discussed, reflected upon and shoved into a pile (mountain) in the corner .
In other news a crystal has been knawed off nics little finger (alco gelled first) -1 down, 11 to go (2 on each thumb) but at least the superglue isn't invincible!
Night!
G and N Xx
- comments
Anne Read Hello girls, What fun and hillarity thank you so much for your narrated travels. Sleep tight, Love Mum xxxx
Candace Dovey Just love the way you both write -feel a travel book looming... Seriously . Love Mum (Dovey)