Shanghai, China - Day 2

Friday, April 17

Today is Al's birthday (and he even has a Beatle's song for the occasion - something about being 64!) so, in cruising tradition, our cabin door had to be decorated accordingly. As it was our second day in Shanghai, we could leave the ship whenever we pleased and just had to present our passports to Immigration officials so we had a leisurely breakfast then headed off around 10am. Not much opens, other than business offices, before 10-11am so there was no need to hurry.

Happy Birthday Al - and I do still need you and I will still feed you now you're 64

We caught the next shuttle into town and met up again with an Aussie couple we had spoken to yesterday. The four of us decided to hire a taxi together and head out to the end of Nanjing Road - approx. 6 kms away to take a look a bit further afield than the Bund area. Our female taxi driver was a very aggressive driver and ducked and weaved, totally unphased by the mayhem and horn blowing going on around her. Delivered safely (well delivered anyway!), we got out to start our walk back to the ship.

Shanghai's diverse skyline

Shanghai's towers - both business and housing - go on and on forever so we would have had to go many more kilometres to reach the outskirts of just the main business district. As we got out of the taxi, the first thing we saw was a magnificent temple building but the queue outside put us off so we made do with photos through the open gates. We then decided that each couple should go their own way because it was obvious we had different agendas.

Along Nanjing Road about 6kms from the Bund area

Getting closer to the Bund area

There were high end shops one after the other occasionally interspersed with an older style plaza complex. Any store you could name was there plus many we had never heard of before. In the older plaza complexes we were swamped by reps for tailors, optical stores, handbag and shoe stores but in the high end complexes it was like being on Fifth Avenue. Shanghai business women dress just like their NY counterparts (only several sizes smaller) and we saw some magnificently dressed people along the way. We bought quite a few things ourselves and are now hoping we will be able to fit everything into our cases and also remain within our airline weight allowance.

We lunched with locals in a cafe but made it back to the ship in time for dinner and the late Show. We estimated that we walked at least 10 kms so we were well and truly ready for bed after the show - a very funny American comedian.

Street Hawkers near the Port

A bicycle repair man

Around 1.45am I was awakened as the ship's engines warmed up ready for our 2am departure from Shanghai. On looking out the cabin window, I couldn't tell whether it was fog or smog that had engulfed the top of all the floodlit buildings but it was still a magnificent sight sailing away from such an amazing city and I was glad I had woken. The Harbour is huge and after an hour's sailing we were still passing docks, etc. so I decided to say goodbye Shanghai and get some sleep.

Almost back to the ship now - note the topiary dolphins in the background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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