Shanghai--Monday Sept 2 and Tuesday Sept 3

So, in the early morning hours, unable to sleep, I thought -- how do you get hot spot ability on the iPhone?  Ironically, we had the ability all along, and did not think about it.  So, we might be able to do the blog after all (hurray!) with the thanks of what I was told was an "unlimited data plan".  We'll be a few days behind while we catch up, so please excuse us! And, if any issues happen, we might be silent for a while.  Thanks for the understanding!  (After all, we are in China!)

Loading up and getting ready!

Today’s primary objective was to get to China.  Since Theresa used a whole lot of AA Miles to get us First Class, we used the brand new (First Class Only) check in lounge at O’Hare.  It was strange, but very nice!  Then, they directed us to the Flagship Lounge (a step above the AAdmiral’s Lounge) where we could help ourselves to the self serve bar.  It made for a very nice wait.

Our flight to Shanghai (Pudong, actually) was great!  Left on time, got there on time, a little turbulence on the way, but limited.  Theresa napped a few times, and I did once.  We watched a few movies.  About 7 hours into it, we remarked that we still had longer to go than NY to London!  We arrived almost 30 minutes early, so the flight was a mere 14 hours.

Theresa on the MagLev Train

From the airport, we took the MagLev train, which reached 301 kph (about 188 mph), and the trip was less than 15 minutes.  After a cab ride for the last few miles, we were at our hotel.

This makes the 30 miles trip only 7 minutes long!

Waldorf Astoria lobby

Theresa traded points to stay at the Waldorf Astoria, right on the Bund.  It was like they did not want us to do anything as there was someone to take our bags, they walked us to the check in counter, and all the way up to our room…on the 20^th floor!  The room is incredible.  The entrance area is a beautiful marble, and off to one side is the “closet”.  It is a walk in, with automatic lights, a safe, and a fancy pouch holding two gas masks.  Yes, gas masks!  OK, their purpose is really as a smoke hood, for evacuating in a fire, but the label is gas mask!  The bathroom is large, marble, with glass enclosed “rain” shower, and a deep

Our Room at the Waldorf!

separate tub.  As you open the glass door to the commode, the toilet lid automatically opens.  There is a little light at the back (which is very handy in the middle of the night) and a control panel.  A brief survey of the buttons (which had front and back controls, flow force, and more) was enough to tell me not to touch!  The main room has really nice furniture and a gorgeous view of the river (an upgrade due to Theresa being Diamond with Hilton). 

 

The view from our Room to Pudong

Some of the boats were funny looking



Some of the boats were ugly

Our first meal in China...That's Bill's beer :-)

We (eventually) left the hotel and walked the promenade of the bund.  It was like a large boardwalk along the river.  The views were neat, and at least at that time, the crowds were light.  Being kind of tired from the very long day, we were losing steam and interest quickly.  We found a food court at the end and a little restaurant for our first meal here.  No, it wasn’t McDonald’s…although we did think about the Subway restaurant with a full ice cream menu board.  We went back to our room and tried to stay awake until after 7PM. 




The sun had set, and the lights had come up on the buildings in Pudong (across the river from us).  One of the buildings had a steady set of commercials that played across the face of it.