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November 1, 2000
Shanghai: Skyscrapers and Starbucks
I spent three days in Shanghai as a guest of a friend there on business. It was a glorious holiday full of luxury, sun, and American food. I left Changsha from a new and modern airport. No longer do you need to walk to the plane across runways and drag your carry-on up a flight of stairs. Now you ride escalators and walk down ramps and right onto the plane.
The hotel was fantastic. A five star wonder. Live classical music or jazz combos, western or Chinese food, soft beds, and TV with CNN, HBO, and an Australian, Hong Kong, and British TV station. I spent a lot of time watching TV. The TV in my apartment is either in Chinese or government propaganda in English.
Friday was filled with sightseeing, great food, Chinese Acrobats. The juggling and balancing the acrobats do is unbelievable. I attended a performance last summer also, and they still have the capacity to take my breath away. When we left the acrobat show I saw a Starbucks Coffee. I quickly went to the closest hotel and asked for a card. Every hotel has a card that says, "Take me to the hotel" written in English and Chinese. I get around in strange cities by wandering the streets and exploring, and when I get tired I hail a taxi and ride to my next destination using an appropriate hotel card. I decided, then and there, that I was having a Starbucks coffee the next morning.
My business friend left Shanghai and I was on my own by Saturday morning. The sun was shining and I arose early to find my way to Starbucks. Upon getting a map from the hotel I found that it was about a 30-minute walk so I started out. There was a martial arts competition being held in the city, and as I walked I stopped and watched performances by groups of people. They were laughing, relaxed, and obviously enjoying showing friends their skill.
I arrived at Starbucks and found it filled with Americans. The first person I struck up a conversation with told me she had lived in Shanghai for six years, that Starbucks had just arrived, and that was why all the Americans were there. I sat drinking my coffee and a waitress, Chinese of course, said to me, " Is this you latte?" I said "no" just as another white woman with gray hair said, "That's mine." We both laughed and said, in unison, "we all look alike." She was an American who had lived in Shanghai for 5 years.
Shanghai is very clean and modern. If you look at my photo page you will see a very western looking city. If you leave the main thoroughfares you will find the old China, but even these older parts are clean. There are trashcans everywhere, and spitting and public smoking are not allowed. I spent two lovely days wandering the streets, eating both Chinese and western food, and drinking Starbucks at least twice a day.
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