10/22/07-Shanghai (Shanghai Museum)
After breakfast, we visited the Shanghai Museum. This museum is quite large with a collection of over 120,00 items including bronze wear, ceramics, calligraphy, currency, paintings, jade, furniture, and Chinese seals. Although established in 1952, it was redesigned and reopened in 1995. It is now very stunning from the outside. There are 4 levels with a small shopping kiosk at every level and a regular store at the street level for the general public who do not wish to enter the museum. We spent 2 hours there and saw only a portion of the displays, and at this late point in the tour were probably “museumed out”.
We returned to the hotel, had our last lunch together as a group and were free for the rest of the day. A small group (Judy and John, Lynda and Darrell, and us) made a plan for the late afternoon to have dinner and do some last minute shopping in Old Town. Brona had heard about a renown “dumpling” restaurant on a food show in the States that she was anxious to try. It was supposed to serve the best dumplings in all of China. Samantha wrote out instructions for the taxi to take us to Old Town and the Chinese words for “Dumpling Restaurant” that we were to show to local merchants for directions once we had arrived in Old Town. So after a 2 hour siesta, we all met in the lobby, had the hotel summon 2 taxis, and headed out. And the whole thing worked like a charm. The taxis were very clean, the drivers experienced, and the prices reasonable. After a 15 minute ride, they dropped us off at the front of Old Town for the price of $4 per taxi (including tip).
The merchants were very helpful with directions, particularly the ones who sold us things and we found the restaurant very easily. We had been told to go to the 3rd. floor where they accommodate larger groups and were immediately seated. During our tour James had taught us how to count to ten both by voice and hand signs. This came in handy at the restaurant when the matre'di signaled how many people in our party and Dave was able to sign “6”. With the waitress's help we ordered crab, mushroom, and vegetable dumplings. Each order came out in a small wicker basket (6 dumplings per basket). The dumplings themselves were super hot inside and had only a thin shell of pastry holding then together. We consumed 48 fantastic dumplings in all and everyone was filled and smacking their lips. Along with 6 bottles of premium beer, the meal cost us $35/couple. No one complained.
After dinner, we resumed our shopping. Immediately past the restaurant, the alley opened up onto a large well-illuminated courtyard which served as the center of activity for the area. It was a joyous sight and a good jumping off spot for the rest of our escapade. We window-shopped at numerous establishments and bought tea/coffee mugs, and few more t-shirts along the way. Most of the store owners spoke English which expedited the process. Passing by a small store, we spied a new 28” suitcase to replace the one that was in poor shape from heavy handling during the current and previous trips. Again, after much bargaining that continues into the street, we got our price. After all of us were sufficiently “shopped out”, we hailed 2 taxis and using the calling card from the hotel, returned safely back for the same price as before.
For pictures taken this day, click Shanghai.
We all agree that we had a wonderful afternoon and evening. We then sadly said farewell to Judy and John as they were leaving early in the morning for the east coast from a different airport and therefore wouldn't see us at breakfast. As with everyone on this tour, we grew to really like them and hope to see them again.
