Shanghai--On my OWN

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Geo: 31.23, 121.47

I had to go pick up the Kids European passports. Ok.... On My OWN....
I went with Li to buy the tickets.
He said "A little Snow"
"WOW great I get to see Shanghai with snow... that sounds great," I thought.
"No, the train a little Snow, Not so fast!"
"AHH..The train a little slow... more stops, not an express to Shanghai.
OK. Then NO SNOW!!! and it will thake half an hour longer to get there.
The train was going 283km per hour and the temperature 9.2*C
There where so many factories along the way bellowing out white smoke.

Got to Shanghai, caught a taxi. Went to the embassy. Went up to the 17th floor and when I walked inside there where so many chinese people waighting.... AAHHH... how long is this going to take.
I spoke my best Italian hoping that I wouldn't have to wait in line....
"Si Signora, Entra" the chinese lady behind the glass said and pressed the button to unlock the door....
AAHH.. I escaped the huge line... I later found out they where waiting for entry visas to Italy...
I signed the paper work. Shook hands and off I went with the Passports.
All done in 15 minutes.... That was quick... Now what... SHOPPING... I had 4 hours... Lets go!!!

Needed boots to match the bag I bought last week... Found the boots in the first shop.... But I was supposed to take my time, browse and waste time... Found my top in the 2nd shop... Hey I said I had to waist time!!!!
I did go to this little shop we walked by... Tops 12RMB = $1.80 and pants for the same price....
I couldn't buy too much because I had to carry it... Where's Luca when you need a strong Man to hold the shopping bags. Any ways... It's not much fun shopping on your own....

Starbucks again!!! for lunch.... It's so much colder than 9.2*C... Hey it just might snow!!!

Time to catch the train home. Speed 299km per hour. I really enjoyed the diverse chinese landscape.
(Our last trip to Shanghai we had a little party and we started drinking martini's. I had a headache and Lanni said that after one of his Lantini's it will go. He was right. The headache was gone .... but I woke up with a bigger headache the following morning.... Not the best thing to be travelling in a fast train with a hangover/headache... I kept my eyes closed the whole time.)

Back to the lanscape.... There is the old, Very old (ruins/part ruins), the new, and very new and everything inbetween, wether it be houses, factories or stadiums. Huge concrete slabs waiting to have the multi story flats built. Huge road works building massive bridges and freeways and then farm lands with the plots very presice as if they had been drawn by an architect.

The hills reminded me of Asolo in Italy but instead of having little churches on each peak... here there are electical wires, antenna's and what looks like an observatory to gaze at the stars. Even some of the sunny sides of the hills have been carved away so they can be plowed... Oh and the occasional pagoda....

"What Next Stop Nanjing" But we haven't had any stops yet.... AHH this is the fast, fast train...
Express.. No stops... Ahhh. "THIS TRAIN NOT A SNOW TRAIN!"

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