mud

On my first morning there, I decided to walk to the Bund from the hostel I was staying in near People’s Square. I got turned around in People’s Square though, and so I walked off south-eastwards thinking I was going north-eastwards. I had a nice walk through minor streets, and reached the river right under one of the big bridges that crosses to Pudong. Thinking the Bund was just south of me, I turned right and walked along the river for another long way. When I got to the second big bridge across the Pu, I finally asked for directions and realized the error of my ways. By this time my feet were quite sore, so I just caught a taxi to the Bund.

It seems like half the people you interact with in Shanghai are out to scam you, but at least there aren’t pick-pockets or physical danger like there are in other big cities. In my two days in Shanghai, I over-payed for a shoeshine and one taxi ride, and I met tea house scammers a couple times, but lost in Shanghai I never felt in any danger, as I might have in Los Angeles, Mexico City, or Recife. And the other half who aren’t out to scam you are really hospitable, and even the scammers are quite pleasant people.

A pretty place

It was a long time ago now, so memories are faint, but I have pleasant memories of riding around in a little three wheeled taxi that broke down every five minutes, playing on the great wall, and wading in the ocean waves. Somewhere I have pictures of some of these activities…

So I am finally going to China next year, and I will be only 1.5 hours from Hangzhou. I suspect I will be taking weekend trips to Hangzhou fairly often. Woohoo! I hope it is as nice as people say it is.

I went there when I was in Rome, but had forgotten about it being a whole nother country, and thus, clearly, a separate place worthy of an entry here.

I was reminded about it because someone mentioned that the new U.S. embassy in Baghdad is bigger than Vatican City. That’s one big embassy, and one small country.

I thought the main attractions were pretty lame, but the buildings made to resemble famous places in the world were pretty cool.

I had lunch there, and that’s about it.

I think it’s over-rated, but it’s still worth visiting. Lots to see.

It’s got some pretty spots and lots of history.

I’d like to go back for longer some time.