Shanghai, Here we come!

Warning: This post contains lots of photos!*

 

Are you ready to go on a journey? Well, go grab your things because we're about to board a bullet train headed to Shanghai!

(I'll wait while you get your stuff….I won't leave without you!)

First we have to head over to the beautiful and nearly brand-spanking new train station at Tianjin West.  That's where we'll start our journey, okay?

 

Wow!  Have you ever seen such a sparkling clean and nicely lit station????  Not me!!!  Check out those windows!  Pretty cool, huh?

Oh yeah.  Did you remember to pack any food or snacks?  We didn't.  Oops.  Let's head to the one place that we know will make us some food fast.  You can tell where we're headed, right? Actually, come to look at this photo I can see two places that you're probably familar with- for better or for worse.  We're heading to the Golden Arches this time.  No, we don't love the big M but we do know that we can get our meal super fast there.  We don't want to miss our train!

And….luckily we didn't miss our train!  This station operates a little differently than their European counterparts.  You have to wait up in that big hall until they call your train number (which happens about 20 minutes prior to departure time).  Then you get to fight your way through the crowd, through the ticket gate and on to the platform.  I think some of us are going to need "cultural training" when we return back to the Western world so that we can be reminded how to wait for your turn patiently in a nice line.  Hmmm….

Hey cool!  You found your car and your seats!  Remember, in this train the seats are all assigned.  Not to worry, it's all printed out on your ticket.  Ummm….well, it's printed in Chinese.  Fortunately, we have with us someone who has been taking his Chinese lessons seriously (that would be Mark in case you're wondering).

 

Poor Ava!  She doesn't get her own seat!  Why?  If you're under 120cm tall you can ride for free on the train BUT it also means you don't have a seat.  Thank goodness for Daddy's lap! Annika has a half-price ticket because she's under 150cm tall.  All you Americans better brush up on your metric system units!

You say your forgot to pack a snack or a drink and you didn't have time to pick something up in the station???  No worries!  You can buy them from this lady pushing the snack cart.  She'll pass by frequently in case you miss her the first time.  And if you're bored you can walk down to the "restaurant" car of the train and pick something up there to munch on (if you can read the menu).  And relax, they have normal potties on this train!  No squatty potties here.  Whew!  What a relief! 

 Five hours later we're in Shanghai! You just travelled about 600 miles!  So that's why we take bullet trains!

(Astrid leaves Tianjin on a train traveling south at 300kph.  At the same time Mark misses his train and starts running in the opposite direction at 7kph.  At what time is Astrid's train 3/4ths of the way between where she is going and where Mark's train would have been by that time?  Stumped?  Yeah, me too.  Word problems are hard.  On with the photos!!!)

Okay, the next step of the trip might get a little tricky.  So, you know where your hotel is located and you know which subway line you need to get on but how do you buy your ticket?  Well, blunder along with us as we try to figure it out too, okay?  There are some cool-looking ticket machines that look like they take cash.  But they won't take our cash.  Why?  No idea…so walk around until you find a counter with an actual person that you hope can help.  Fortunately, with their tiny bit of English and your tiny bit of Chinese you manage to buy Metro tickets for the line and stop you want (Metro is the name of Shanghai's subway). We'll be on the Green Line heading to People's Square.  Thank goodness all the stops are called out in English.  

Piece of cake, right?!?

 

 

So, we arrived super duper extra late at the hotel.  By the way, we'll be staying at the Le Royal Meridien.  That extra fifteen minutes of haggling with the receptionist at the front desk was worth it!  Check out the views from your room on the 39th floor!!!!

Why the haggling???  Well, as you probably suspected, it's not very common for Chinese families to have more than one child per family.  In short, hotels are not very accomodating towards larger families (anything more than one child would be considered a large family).  Hotels will often try to tell you that you need to book TWO rooms for a family of four.  Are you kidding me?!?!?  So,hence the haggling.  Yes, it's just fine if they sleep on a couch.  We'll only be staying for two nights.

 

Enlarge this photo….(go on).  Can you see the amusement park down there?  Remember it.  You'll see it again from ground level.

OOOOOOOOooooooo!!!!  Awwwwwwwww!!!  Isn't Shanghai such a pretty looking city?

 

You can't probably tell but down there is the subway station you exited late last night.  It was late and it was dark so you might not remember. 

Shanghai Lights at Night from Astrid Breutzman on Vimeo.

 

 

Shanghai at Night from the 39th Floor from Astrid Breutzman on Vimeo.

 

One thing you'll first notice about this hotel (after you've recovered from your late night) is that the hotel lobby isn't on the ground floor.  It's not even one floor up.  It's on the 10th (or 11th?) floor.  So, no you weren't crazy last night wondering why the heck it took so long for the elevator to take you from the ground floor to the lobby last night.  Did I mention that it was late???

We'll meet you down in the lobby for a huge, big, beautiful and bountiful breakfast, okay?  And afterwards do you mind if we go check out the swimming pool?  I know you're not supposed to go swimming so soon after eating a meal but we're just too excited to try it out! 

The hot tub is just behind Mark, Annika and Ava.  I think some of us (ahem) will spend more time in there than in the big pool. 

 

 View from the hotel pool: (oh, I think those palm trees are FAKE but they make the place look nice, right?)

 I can think of at least two small people in our group that are super excited to be in the pool!

 

 

Now it's time to get dried off and go explore but first how about we show you are room?

For some reason the tub in the main bathroom (yes there were two bathrooms) came fully equipped with a pair of rubber duckies…

 Annika and Ava are showing you their beds.  Two sofas make two very fine beds! (the first night Annika whined a bit about having to sleep on the couch…the second night she couldn't wait to go back to sleep on that really comfortable couch!!!)

 

 

 

 Oh my!  Checked out the curved door!  It leads out to a tiny round foyer. This hotel room  reminds me more of a tiny apartment.  It even comes with a tiny kitchenette, living room and small dining table.  A pretty sweet suite!

 Okay, NOW we're ready to go exploring! First stop….we need to find that Starbucks that we saw down below from our window.  But first-hey- check out those trolleys!  Watch out that you don't get run over! 

 

We found the Starbucks!  With coffees in hand everything will be just fine!  Oh, or do you prefer hot chocolate?  We've got you covered!  

Do you see what I see in the  background???  What do you think the girls wanted to do once they saw in from our windows upstairs?  Stair at a wall you say?  No!  Watch paint dry on the wall?  No!  We JUST HAD to check out the amusement park!  (didn't I tell you about that?)

 

 

And while we're heading there check out the trees!!!!  They have leaves on them!!!!!!  And there are flowers!  Oh yeah, we did travel about 600 miles SOUTH. 

How about a ride on this swing?  It looks like fun, doesn't it?  Don't be freaked out when a crowd of people gather to watch two blonde girls enjoying the ride.  And be sure to listen carefully when another American expat warns you about pickpockets (apparently they'd LOVE to take your iPhone) and the beggars.  Perhaps it's better to put that iPhone of yours in a safer location….

Shanghai Amusement Park from Astrid Breutzman on Vimeo.

 

How about one more ride?  Two of the four people in our family requested the bumper cars ride.  All four of us got to enjoy it!  Weeeeeeee!!!!! 

 

Watch out!  I might just crash into you if you're not careful! 

Is this where the Chinese learn how to drive????  Hmmmmm….

Annika certainly had a blast driving her own car. 

Now we'll take a walk up E. Nanjing Road.  It's a pedestrian street loaded with shops on both sides.  Because you're worried about pickpockets and thieves you'll put your iPhone (which also happens to be your camera) in a safe place.  That also means you don't get photos of that part of your walk.  Oh well!  Sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry.  

You'll encounter lots of different people on your walk.  Some people will try to harrass you into buying you wheelies for your shoes.  Just ignore them and they'll leave you alone.  Other people might try to show you a brochure listing all sorts of counterfeit items that you can buy from them.  They'll try to get your attention by saying, "hey lady!  You want buy a bag?  Want buy a watch?"  Ignore them too and they'll leave you alone.  Oh, you wanted to buy a counterfeit item??? Well, don't ask me how to go about getting it.  I've heard one too many stories about those sorts of dealers to think it's a good idea.  You try to buy something and let me know how it goes,okay?

 

We'll keep walking on E. Nanjing Road until we hit the river.  Check out the cool buildings on the other side of the river!  

Did you see that wall behind us? It has lots of flowers- real one!- growing in plugs.  Cool! 

 

Oooooo!!!  Check out the Oriental Pearl TV Tower!  Doesn't it look like it should be a spaceship or something?  Looks like something I saw on an ancient Dr. Who episode. 

 Had you fooled with this photo, right???

(no?)

Now walk up and down along the river and enjoy the pretty buildings you think are part of The Bund.  You're not exactly sure what The Bund is but you've heard about it.   Regardless, it's a pretty neat looking place.  And there are even two silly girls to entertain the crowd!

 

Along the river in Shanghai from Astrid Breutzman on Vimeo.

 

 

 You might find a cute little Asian child carrying what appears to be a rather fancy camera.  Ummm….I'm pretty sure I wouldn't let my girls carry my fancy camera!  

 Oh, and be ready to be stared at.  And don't be alarmed when people want to have their photos taken with you.  Because it'll happen.  Remember, we're the weirdo looking people here.  I've decided that I'll take photos of random strangers too!  Hey, if they can do it, so can I!  

Ah yes.  And now comes to your first taxi ride experience in China.  Seat belt?  What's that?????  

And now comes to the sad part (photographically speaking) of our journey.  You're heading to meet up with a friend of Mark (someone he used to go to high school with and has been living in Shanghai for many years).  You'll meet his wife and his two lovely daughters that are close in age to Annika and Ava.  AND you'll forget to take any photos because you'll be too busy eating, chatting and having a lovely visit!!!  Whoops.   

After we parted ways with our new/old friends you'll make your way back to your hotel.  But not before you grab some yummy looking treats!  Seriously, how can you resist strawberries on a stick coated with caramel (or some sort of sugar glaze)????  They were GOOOOOOOD!!!!!  Mine were gone in a flash!

 How about a lovely dinner at a French restaurant located in the hotel (I don't even want to think about how much that cost!)? Followed by some oohing and ahhing at the pretty city lights out your window…and a great night's sleep.   

Now, we all love starting our day with a fantastic breakfast!  Why don't you go pick out some goodies for your breakfast while we eat ours?  We've got some more plans after breakfast….

 Why don't you grab a taxi and meet us here….

at Yuyuan Area.   

 Ummmm….so even in the very Chinese-looking parts of Shanghai they have something even we foreigners recognize!?! Not sure how I feel about that….what do you think?

As we're walking around notice all the shops and alley ways… 

 And why don't we pop out of the super touristy bit and see what at least I assume "real" Chinese people live. Perhaps you've noticed this but it's kind of hard to tell how "real" Chinese live like as we foreigners are sheltered (which, mind you, isn't a bad thing but it does have us wondering what it's really like to live in China as a Chinese person).

 Hey!  Check out that cart that just went by!  Did you see what was in it?  I bet our cousins Lily, Gregory and Henry would know!  Those are a bunch of sugar canes!

Hmmm….looks like part of a restaurant in an alley way. 

 What is she making???  I think she's blending corn kernels to make a corn drink.

 Ooooo!!!  Look at all the pottery for sale in this tiny little shop!

 One last look at this beautiful area.  So much left to explore but sadly it's time to head home.  Next time we'll go check out Yuyuan Garden, okay?

 But before we head back to the train station how about a quick stop at Starbucks???  We NEED caffeine!!!!  (okay, no we don't but we like Starbucks anyway)

 Time to boogie!  Quick!  Pack your bags and go check out of your room.  We'll meet you down in the lobby.  Then it's time to head over to the subway station at People's Square.  Ugh, who invited all these throngs of people to ride on the Metro with us????  Careful you don't get smooshed or left behind!  Did you make it???  We BARELY did.  Poor Ava learned a lesson- DO NOT fall down while entering the subway train when there is a huge crowd of people pushing and shoving to get on that same train.  The doors tried to close on us.  Eeep!  Whew!  We made it!  Sure hope you did too!  We have to head back to the train station to catch the bullet train back to Tianjin.  It leaves Shanghai at 1pm with or without us.  I'd rather be on it!

 

Yippee!!!!  We made it to the train station.  That was easy!!!  Now, why don't you grab a quick snack for the train ride home.  

 

Okay, it's time to board the train!  Whew.  We managed to get through the masses and board.  You're still with us, right?  Sure hope we didn't leave you behind!  Mind you….Shanghai IS a nice city.

 Here we go!  WOW!  We're going 306km/hour!  (you go do the conversion to mph and come tell me how fast we're going, okay?)

 Annika demonstrates one form of onboard entertainment….ipod.

And here's the other form of onboard entertainment…reading a book. 

 And some cutie pie has checked out.  Shhhh!!!!!  Let's not wake her, okay????

We're so glad you could join us on our first trip to Shanghai!  I don't know about you but I think we'll be going back there.  There are too many things left to explore!!!  

Oh…and by the way….go pack your bags!  We're off to Beijing!!!!! 

(It has to do with a little promise we made to Ava back home in the USA.  We told her we'd take her to see The Great Wall of China for her birthday!!!  You don't want to miss that, do you?????)

 

* We hope you enjoyed them!