Day 2 In Shanghai -- Whatta Day!!!

Day 2 started out with a trip to the old garden village in the inner part of the city. This garden, kept up for over 400 years, features original Ming Dynasty structures and beautiful ponds, plants, and stone statues.

Here's a fantastic dragon construction on top of a wall, with a huge swooping tail

We took a nice group photo in front of one of the nicest garden areas, with a 400-year old gingko tree to our left.

Afterwards, we had free time to wander the market outside the garden...a total tourist trap. The students endured an endless stream of con artists, hucksters, and beggars. But some of them were successful -- pearls were bought, as were silk, fake jade, and fake Rolex watches.

Susan Short was not our tour guide, but she looks good in that role, you have to admit.

Next, we went to the China Pearl Tower, the highest TV tower in China and one of the highest in the world. It's like some giant James Bond laser...unreal and etherial. It is the single most recognizable landmark in Shanghai. We went up to observation deck and surveyed the city -- oh my, what a picture of development!!!

Afterwards, groups split up to do different things (aquarium, shopping wandering, etc.). It was a bee-yoo-tee-ful spring day, with a nice ocean breeze, so I chose to wander down by the water front with a small group of students. This photo shows the view...man oh man what a skyline. The large globe in the forground is part of the World Convention Center.

We found a lovely little restaurant/bar that had a terrace overlooking the Huang Poo river...I cannot tell you how nice it was to be there, on that day, just sitting there and talking and drinking in that skyline!