Queen Elizabeth Voyage: March 23, 2017, Shanghai, China

March 23, 2017, Shanghai, China

The formatting of the next two entries will be messed up. I had a chance to up load a couple of batches of pictures using a better internet connection.

The two days before Shanghai were at sea days. A time to catch our breath, do the laundry, and just relax.

On Tuesday the 21st, we listened to three Insight Lectures. First, Squadron Leader John Peters talked about his experiences as a POW during the First Gulf War in 1991. The second lecture was by Roy Hunt talking about Cole Porter, his life and music. The third lecture was by Michael Hindley speaking about Korea, The Hermit Kingdom.

Wednesday the 22nd, was much the same with Michael Hindley speaking on China, Threat or Opportunity. The second lecture was by Roy Hunt presenting “The Lives and Music of George and Ira Gershwin.”

Finally, March 23rd and we are in the port of Shanghai, the largest city in China, the largest city by population in the world. Twenty-four million people live in the city. As one of our shipmates stated, there are more people in Shanghai than there are in the country of Australia. Shanghai was the second Chinese city to be opened to foreign trade.

Sandra and I decided not to take a ship’s tour. Instead, we took a shuttle bus from the pier into town. The bus dropped us at Huangpu Park, at the conjunction of Huangpu River and Suzhon Creek. The park is between the river and “The Bund” the old part of town where foreign businesses were first located. It is still the location of the biggest banks and business in the city. From this side of the river, you can see the world famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower and other tall buildings on the other side of the river. The Monument to the Peoples Heros is located by the river’s edge in Huangpu Park. It honors all the Chinese, Red Chinese, that made modern Shanghai possible. At the base of the monument, there is a circular wall with the history of twentieth century China carved in granite.

We walked along the river bank until we spotted a bank. ATMs are a great way to obtain local currency in foreign lands. We then just walked around the city taking in all that was happening. We stopped in one building that had a number of clothing stores. On the second floor, we found a pizza restaurant. One of the waitresses spoke excellent English and we had a very good lunch of a Lamb Pizza. We did some more walking around before walking back to The Bund and finding our shuttle bus. Another 45 minute ride and we were back on the ship.

The night’s show was the Cunard Singers and Dancers in their production “Palladium Nights.” At ten in the evening, we slipped our lines and headed down the river for the sea.