...Do you see the trend here?
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2008
1
33
46
Trip End
Jul 22, 2009
Where I stayed
Shanghai, Shanghai, China
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Sara decided on Friday morning to head all the way to Shanghai by herself. It would be a nice break for both of us. Then after Steve finished his classes he would head on up to Hefei and then get to Shanghai on Saturday morning. I (Sara) knew that I would be going crazy waiting around the apartment all day for Steve to finish with his classes considering I had none. I left here around 10am and then got on a bus to Hefei. I wondered all the way up to the train station in order to get a ticket. Once I got there I realized this was kind of silly. It was a Friday afternoon and there were a lot of people wanting tickets. I waited in line for a little while then realized a hawker was wondering around selling ticket. I figured I needed to chance to buy for a hawker and figured, why not now? I know what a real ticket is supposed to look like. I have bought enough of them. Let's see what happens. The ticket was standing, but it was a ticket. I got on with no problems.
I knew how the fast trains work and the best places to go, so back of the car I went. There was a little space right behind the back seat, so I took a few bags from the seat, put them of the ground and sat of them. I was great for three hours just reading my book and watching the Chinese around me laughing at me sitting on the floor :)
I got off the train and headed over to get tickets for Sunday night to go back to Anqing. This wasn't too bad considering they have a window with someone who spoke English. Then came the long trek to where we would be staying. We had gotten a card from some friends in Nanjing about a place that was reasonable and in the center of the city. Of course it was rainy and yucky and China streets are rarely where they are supposed to be. Well, I had the address in Chinese on my phone so after asking numerous people I finally see this building. Hengshang Peninsula International Hotel. This is fairly close to name of the hotel, let's try it. I go in and ask if this is the right place. They said no and pointed me to a street to the side and motioned to go the way I came. Okay, whatever. I go there and then call the contact. He tells me that I was at the right place, but wrong elevator. I finally find it and then ask the guy about giving me the wrong address. Come to find out there are three addresses to this particular building...Ahh, only in China.
By this time Steve is in Hefei all ready to come and meet me in Shanghai the next morning and then to pick up my Mom. Goodnight.
I met up with Billy at the airport and then picked up Mom. Billy then proceeded to take us around town. First we took Mom's luggage to the hotel and then Billy took us to a wonderful fusion restaurant. It is a combination of Western food and Chinese food. Also Mom realized that Chinese food isn't too bad. Next we made our way over to a restaurant on the rooftop looking over the Bund. It was also a perfect night to sit up there. Finally we made our way back to the the hotel for some sleep.
We decided to come back in a week in order to see Zhejiajiao with Billy, so instead of doing that this time around we went to one of our favourite museums in Shanghai - Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. I was so proud of myself! I actually looked at the spider display this time!! Afterward we decided to head on over to eat dinner. Steve and I had waited quite a long time for Mom to come and to eat at a very special restaurant...Applebee's! Finally we made our way to the train station and watched people for a few hours before getting on a night train to Anqing. This will be fun.
