Shanghai Sunshine

Tuesday was a great day. Want to hear about it? Okay.
Took the bus to People's Square and went to go find the bus that would take me to a suburb for the day, only it was raining miserably and I decided I would rather just go to the Shanghai museum (see left). I spent a good 3 or 4 hours in there, taking the audio tour, eavesdropping on conversations in Chinese, Spanish, and English, and even introducing myself to a group of people there from all over the U.S. (Joanna and probably Mom: One of them went to Totino Grace...she said she didn't make the dance team.)

I don't love Chinese art, but I do love museums, and I really love audio tours, so I had a fantastic time. And I have to admit, some of it was really cool, especially the ceramics. They had a "Chinese Minority Nationalities' Art Gallery' which contained this traditional Hmong outfit. (The placard said it was of the Miao people, which confused me until I remembered that is the Chinese word for Hmong...one of those words you learn when it describes over 2/3 of your class.) If only I liked Chinese art better, I seriously could be running that very museum someday, if they'd let a waiguoren (foreginer) run it.



When I left the museum, I found completely gorgeous weather. Bought lunch and sat by a dormant fountain...and about 2 minutes later, heard an announcement saying to stay away from it, because it was about to start. Watched people play in the fountain for a bit, then went to read in the shade. Ran into some people who wanted to practice their English, and spoke to them in Chinese but told them their English was very good, which it was.



I then went to wander through fancy department stores (I'm talking curved escalators and glass elevators), and ended up on Nanjing Lu, where I'd been before, but was able to enjoy more this time. So many stores...it's really amazing. Stayed there long enough to let it get dark and see all the signs lit up. Also, saw the Bund and the skyline lit up. Then caught a taxi home...I'd wandered too far from my bus stop to want to get back, and taxis here are super cheap. Below are some pictures from today, but I have now posted all of my pictures (not really edited for repetitiveness or quality, sorry) at http://picasaweb.google.com/Alison.Flamm/China2007
Some pictures may also be sideways until a later date.