A Day in Shanghai!

Well, technically less than a day 

(more like 21 hours).

(counting time at airport on the road or sleeping!)

 Todd had some business in Shanghai,

and invited me to come along. YAY ME!! (:

It is funny, while Hong Kong is part of China, it is NOT.

We still needed to get Visa's to enter, 

even though we have Hong Kong IDs!

We hadn't actually set foot on Mainland yet, so we were excited!

We were up and on our way by 6am!

Duffy got his own seat!

(both WAYS!)

 Todd used a water bottle as a pillow,

and I LAUGHED!

Hello, CHINA!

While Todd was busy with the men,

I ventured around the city a bit...

Just a little bit....

and I took care of BUSINESS!

I kinda forgot my memory card for my camera...

Yah... Special.

But, I found this store and they had them, YAY!

China has WIFI boxes too

I had to get a SIM card, for phone service.

It too almost an hour, and everything was in Chinese...

Yes, we are spoiled in HK, usually there is English too.

There was a temporary French street market set up.

Bikes are on the sidewalk, you have to keep your eyes open!

While Todd was loading up on a wonderful MSG lunch,

I had a WONDERFUL authentic French pastry from the market.

SO GOOD!

China drives on the same side of the road as the US

Streetside Butcher

It was fun meeting the 'men', really nice guys!

Then we headed to our hotel.

Our room was awesome!

I have to share.

and the view!

Oh, this is the contract for the SIM card.

Yah, not any English.

NO CLUE what I signed,

but I paid cash, so I felt safe.

more view

Love the roof side gardens.

apparently he does too, closer view

Thank YOU!

We had plans to go out with Jeff & Kendra Lindsay,

an American couple that live in Shanghai.

We were very excited to have them show us around!

We had never actually met them in person,

only knew of them virtually, but knew they lived in Shanghai.

We contacted them to see if we could see them while in Shanghai,

and they generously agreed and were so wonderful!

Anyhow, we had about an hour until it was time to get together,

so what did we do?

Played with the self-timer and acted goofy.

I don't know don't ask.

Jeff came and gathered us from our Hotel,

and we were OFF!

We walked along the streets.

I agree with this guy,

seeing the birds makes me look away too.

Famous crabs for CHEAP!

(sorry it is blurry)

Jeff said we needed to experience Chinese Subway!

It is actually very similar to Hong Kong's, just MUCH BIGGER!

We were actually able to meet Kendra IN the subway.

Very cool.

Here is the tour they took us on!

Amazing and so much fun!

China has a DAIRY QUEEN?!

Ok.  You can't really tell, 

but there are what looks like WHOLE baby pigeons 

cooked and skewered ready to eat in their entirety. :(

No.  We did NOT partake.

But, we did partake of what we were told

is known to be the BEST dim sum in Shanghai!

There was a line.  

USUALLY, a great sign!

You can watch them make the dim sum,

while you wait.  Very cool.

Jeff buying them for us.  

Thank you!

They were DELISH, btw!

Jeff took some pics of us by the water.

I couldn't decide which one I like, 

sorry.

Kendra and Jeff

(aren't they cute!)

More pics of the city

So funny.  HK has an IFC Mall too!

We saw a few, CUTE, stray pups...

After dinner we headed down to the river, to look at the lights,

and take a ferry to the otherside.

It was beautiful!

Before getting on the Ferry,

Todd spotted a Hui Lau Shan!

Just happens to be our FAVORITE dessert place in HK,

which we had been gushing about.

Jeff and Kendra hadn't heard of it,

so of course we had to indulge. 

IT WAS so GOOD, tasted like HK Home! (:

Then we journeyed on the ferry...

I love being on the water.

It was strange being on a non-salt smelling water!

Todd and I had such a wonderful time!

Shanghai is a beautiful, and beyond HUGE city!

One thing that also stood out to us was that people there were SO NICE!

Even the immigration at the airport, both ways, greeted us with a smile!

Probably some of the nicest people we have encountered in our journeys!

Well done Shanghai people, and thank you!

On the way home,

our plane was so small.

I could look down the isle and literally see the pilot.

The door was open before take off.

I haven't seen that in YEARS!

Well, until next time.

T-minus 2 days until Logan and Krystin head to Paris!