Rolls Around the World 2007: 28 Hangzhou to Shanghai, China

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Miles for the day - 130 (209 km) Miles to date: 12,696 (20,432`km) I received an email from Merry, our guide in Hangzhou. She picked up errors on both our parts in my last update, and also expanded upon some facts. The restaurant where we ate the first night, called the Louwailou, was founded in 1868 and is where Richard Nixon dined with Premier Zhou Enlai in 1972 when detent with China was first being discussed.

A small error was made in the size of West Lake - it is 6.7 sq. km. in size, it is the City of Hangzhou that covers 3,068 sq. km.

This morning we only put 100 Yuan ($13.44) of gas in the car, as any surplus will be drained by the shippers. The urban sprawl of Shanghai begins closer to the city when approaching from the south. Our worries about getting tangled up in Shanghai traffic were unfounded - there is a good system of overhead expressways and traffic was lighter as many people are out of town for the Golden Week Holiday. James did a brilliant job of navigating us to the hotel.

The New Harbour Service Apartments surprised us. We'd booked through Expedia on line and really didn't know what to expect, but it is a 30 story high apartment hotel. The Expedia rate was well below rack rate - we are paying less than $100 per night for a deluxe apartment on the 24th floor, with great views, a big living room, kitchen with all appliances, office with free internet and a computer, a second TV in the bedroom and a bathroom. It even includes breakfast for one in the dining room.

We walked with James to a nearby restaurant for lunch, and Marilynn was pleased to find a couple of shirts she liked on the way back. In the evening we met with Ron Flanagan and Jeff David from the Canadian Consulate for dinner, then to a pub for drinks afterwards. James joined us, showing his ability at the pool table later in the evening!

Thursday, October 4, 2007

This morning's city tour started with the Jade Buddha Temple. This is really a series of temples, each with a different theme. It is not very old, but is done faithfully in the old style with beautiful craftsmanship. The Jade Buddha, weighing over 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), is the largest jade carving of Buddha in the world.

Shanghai is a relatively new city, but an old part of town with a bazaar and buildings dating back 600 years has been well restored and preserved. It is very popular with the locals - the pedestrian shopping streets were packed with people. We toured the 450 year old Yuyuan Gardens, located here. This is the largest garden in Shanghai - it took 28 years to build. The area is famous for its variety of restaurants and food stalls, so Kevin, our guide, walked us to a good restaurant for lunch.

The afternoon ended with a stroll on the embankment of the Huangpu River in the Bund, the historic area where foreign legations were during the time of the emperors. In the area built by the British there is a clock tower second only to Big Ben in size, apparently built by the same clockmakers as Big Ben.

After a brief stop at the hotel we were transported to the acrobatic theatre. The show was simply indescribable. There were acrobats, jugglers, contortionists, a magician and a sphere in which motorcycles performed amazing stunts. We bought a DVD of the performance, as what these people were able to do I'd have deemed impossible. Should you have the opportunity to see this group on tour do it - there are few people who would not be left breathless.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Miles for the day - 15 (24 km) Miles to date: 12,711 (20,456`km)

This was our last drive in the Rolls for this trip, other than the short run from Vancouver to Victoria after the car arrives. We were very sad to leave her in the custody of the shippers and return to the hotel with Kevin and our driver. It is hard to believe we have accomplished our goal! I'm surprised that the number of miles we had to drive was not greater - it gives an appreciation for the distance around the globe covered by ocean.

Marilynn wrote the following to sum up our feelings:

"The key turns to the left, and she is silent.

We three share the exhilaration of accomplishment. She, by an infinitesimal flare of her wings.

Then, a collective sigh. Our long journey has ended. Tomorrow, there will be no early morning challenge of fitting everything into the boot. There will be no more evenings spent worrying and planning how to pass the worst stretches of road with the least damage to "the Lady". There will be no more sharing her pain as we crash over unseen hazards on the road. There will be no more extreme highs when at the end of the day we realize how far we have come under the most adverse conditions. There will be no more extreme lows when the bad road ahead seems to have no foreseeable end.

It has been an incredible journey. A journey totally dependant upon the strength of "the Lady". During this trip we have paid tribute to her endless spirit, time and time again. We have laughed and sometimes shed tears over the reaction that she produces in people. To paraphrase Andrei, our young Russian escort "she breaks the faces of all the people she passes". And it is true. We leave smiles behind us wherever we go. What a wonderful thing to be able to say!

So, thank-you Lady. We bless your heart of steel. You have carried us in comfort and safety around the world.

You are a most cherished member of our family.

AND THIS IS DEFINITLY NOT THE LAST JOURNEY!! "

Marilynn didn't feel like going out, so I met with Ron Flanagan and Jeff David for beer and pub food. We were joined by Trista Baldwin, a writer for City Weekend magazine. She presented a copy in which she had done a short story on our trip.

Shanghai is a vibrant, energetic city - very alive and exciting, yet without enormous crime problems. Most of the people who live here that I spoke with seem to enjoy life in the city.

Tomorrow we fly to Yichang, far up the Yantse River, where we will settle aboard a riverboat for four days.