Shanghai'd

TUESDAY, 30 October 2012. Before our small group left for Shanghai, we agreed that we'd be satisfied with whatever came our way. We were meeting others there, and our China experience has taught us that we are not in control here. Simply buying train tickets and getting through multiple layers of security was a challenge, as there was no English. Once we arrived, our friends, one a Shanghai native and another a transplant from Taiwan, whisked us off to lunch at a beautifully restored restaurant in the former French Concession. The meal featured

Shanghai specialties, including dumplings with broth inside and shrimp with vinegar. We asked our friends to surprise us with the schedule for the rest of the day, and they did! The next stop was a genuine Shanghai experience: a visit to a tailor shop. It seemed to be addictive, and soon almost everyone was getting measured and picking fabric and collars. From there we went to the Bundt to view the beautiful buildings along the river. We took as many photos as possible in the fading light before the wet and windy conditions drove us inside for cups of hot chocolate. Then it was back to the train station for more dumplings before our return trip. The day was not what we expected--not a single museum visit!--but we all agreed it was wonderful and left us wanting to return.