Up and having breakfast by 6:30 am -- anything one could want for breakfast is in this dining room.
At 8:00 am Jimmy leads a short walking tour of The Bund -- explaining the history of the area and the European versus the Contemporary architectures. There is a light misty rain while we walk but it is warm.
Our next stop is Old Shanghai with a visit to the Yuyuan Garden -- completed in 1559. The Garden is a maize of pathways over various bodies of water to several very different and beautiful structures. This entire one acre arrangement was originally a private residence -- taken over by the Chinese Government in 1949.
Leaving the garden -- we are let loose in Old Shanghai for 30 minutes. Here we find many small streets, a plaza and a lagoon of sorts with a zig-zag bridge to keep the spirits away (since spirits only travel in straight lines). Shops, department stores and cafes abound. I purchase a sweater for 60 RMB ($10). Our meeting place in Old Shanghai is Starbucks.
Our next stop is a Silk Factory which makes rugs and embroidered wall hangings ---it is where we will lunch at their Mongolian Barbecue. After a brief demonstration of the weaving process -- it is clear that we have been brought here to buy. The rugs are lovely but expensive. We are told that a particular 4' x 6' rug normally sells for $30,000 but with our discount today it would be $9,000. -- Phil and I decide we do not need a new rug.
The Mongolian Barbecue is a different type of lunch. You take a bowl -- fill it with raw meat and vegetables --- get in line at the barbecue -- hand over your bowl --- get in another line to collect your bowl of stuff all cooked. The key is to keep your eye on the grill to track your food -- so you get the right bowl back. I enjoyed my collection of vegetables -- it was quite flavorful. A buffet with cooked fare as well as fresh fruit is available for those less adventurous.
After lunch we spend about ninety minutes at the Shanghai Museum -- a stunning building constructed on a site which used to be a horse racing track. This visit was much better than either Phil or I expected. There are 4 floors of artifacts categorized by item instead of period or region. Rooms include: Jade -- Bronze -- Ceramics, Costume, etc. We run around furiously trying to see everything before it is time to go.
Back at the hotel for a two hour rest before we depart for dinner at "Shanghai Uncle" just out the back door of the Westin -- and on to an Acrobat Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre.
The Shanghai Center is in a different part of town -- very upscale -- we pass several designer store fronts as well as high end hotels and restaurants. The Acrobat Show is amazing -- the very young male and female performers entertain us with stunts that are flawless. Everyone has such a good time for the entire one and half hours.
This is the end of the tour for most people. Thirty-eight of us are going on to Guillin and Hong Kong tomorrow -- with Jimmy as our guide.
Back at the hotel -- Phil and Al decide to walk to The Bund. What do you know -- they find the Long Bar at the Waldorf Astoria.
We've had a very long day and enjoyed every minute.
Thanks for Reading!
Pat
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