Wednesday 16th March 2010 - Shanghai

Sailed up the Yangtze and into Sanghai, China's largest city with a population of 20 million, at 8am. The Yangtze is so wide you can't see the other bank and at any one time there are at least 30 other ships in view. We had to dock at Baoshan which is 30 miles from the centre of Shanghai, we were told that the journey into the centre would take an hour and half, luckily they were wrong and it only took 40 minutes. We were deposited on the Bund which runs alongside the Yangtze and is lined by all the great buidings from colonial times. We walked the length of the Bund, about 2km and were able to see on the other bank the modern skyline with its stunning skyscrapers. After this we visited the old city and in particular the Yuyuan Garden which was finished in 1577 and is very tranquil and although covering only 2 acres, feels much larger as it is designed to create different vistas at every turn. We were invited to try various teas which promised to cure all ills from obesity to wrinkles and piles, we didn't buy any! After this, feeling peckish we braved a local restaurant and ordered steamed pork dumplings which were delicious even though Carol tried to swallow one whole and burnt her mouth! After lunch we went to the City Temple of Shanghai which is very much a working temple dedicated to the City God. After visiting Marks & Spencer to buy some extra knickers, well who else would you trust? we walked back along the Bund and took tea in the Peace Hotel, a fabulous art deco hotel. Our final walk of the day was along the Nan Jing Road which is 4km of 600 shops, this led us to the Shanghai Centre where we were to spend the evening. We had tickets to see the Shanghai Acrobats at the Shanghai Theatre which was amazing and better entertainment than Cirque de Soleille. After this we returned tired but happy, indeed we must have walked at least 5 miles.
Thursday 17th March 2010 - Shanghai - Mass exodus except for the lucky few remaining on board for the next leg.
Having done so much yesterday we spent a lazy day enjoying the first real sun we've had this trip. On this next leg of the trip, we will be very much in the minority as there are only going to be 29 brits on board. We are sad to be saying goodbye to our Captain Carl from the Isle of Mann, the best Captain we have ever had and who kept us so well informed during the crisis in Japan. We now have Captain Carlsson about whom the jury is still out.