Roaming Ruth: May 16 - Day 2 Continued

April 27 & 28 - Shanghai - Took the last of my Signature Tours with Paul & Lynn. We went to a water village (Zhujiajiao - Shanghai’s Venice), visited the French Concession district in Shanghai, and The Bund. The Bund is the waterfront area which, unfortunately, was a construction war zone. They are building two levels below the street, one for parking and one for traffic so the current street will be for pedestrians only. The Peace Hotel which is in this area, was also undergoing renovation and was covered in scaffolding. This is all in preparation for the 2010 World Expo which will be held in Shanghai. Shanghai is a beautiful city and I would love to see it again when they have finished updating The Bund. The view of the city lights at night was beautiful from our ship, though, which was docked very close to the Bund.

In the evening we went to the Chinese Acrobat show which was spectacular. No pictures were allowed, but I doubt I will ever forget the metal sphere (was like a netting you could see through) & the 10 motorbikes which entered the sphere and raced around and around the interior of the sphere. One little misstep would be a disaster.

Village of Zhujiajiao

Waterway

Our boat for the ride down the waterway.

Our driver/rower.

View of waterway.

View of Fangsheng Bridge (setting fish free)

Setting fish free (lady is buying fish from vendor & will release the fish in the river)

Traffic just like home.

French Concession

Shanghai neighborhood

Shanghai at night.

On the morning of April 29, we left Shanghai for our flight to Xi’an and our excursion to see the Terracotta Warriors. We would spend 2 nights in Xi’an and then catch up with the rest of the passengers in Beijing for one night at the Regent Hotel (coincidence with the name - not related to our cruise line).

When we arrived in Xi’an, we had lunch and then went to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the evening we had a great dinner and show at the Tang Palace Restaurant.

On April 30 we visited the Terracotta Warriors Museum, the City Wall which surrounds Xi’an and the Great Mosque. The Mosque was unique in that the architecture is Chinese for a Muslim Mosque.

The Big Goose Pagoda

Following are from Terracotta Warriors Museum

Reconstructed horse and carriage (were made half size)

Headquarters

Reconstruction area in Pit 1

Pit 1

Vanguards - Pit 1

Where farmer dug well which led to discovery of the terracotta warriors.

Detail - Pit 1

City wall around Xi'an (9 miles and wide enough for chariots)

View of moat from wall.

Muslim neighborhood on walk to Mosque.

One of the buildings & grounds of Mosque.

From the Tang Dynasty Show

On May 1, we left early for our flight to Beijing. Upon arrival we had a great lunch and went to the Great Wall of China at the Juyongguan Section. Our hotel in Beijing was spectacular. After a quick shower, cocktail party and dinner, I soaked in the tub hoping to restore my aching muscles from the climb at the Great Wall. There was a lotion called Relaxing Leg Balm in the bathroom which I applied after my soak and it seemed to work!

Welcoming Committee at Restaurant in Beijing

View from 2nd Tower - as far as I climbed

View of wall I didn't climb.

On May 2 we went to the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square. It was packed because May 1 was a holiday (People’s Labor Day). Somehow our tour guide managed not to lose any of us - he did tell us that we had to stick together like “white on rice”. (I found that amusing.) We also drove past the Olympic Village and then had to head back to the ship - this time via bus, for the two and one-half hour drive. I managed to escape using an Eastern Toilet until the bus ride home when I thought I should use one just to say I did. I have included a picture.

Crowd at the forbidden city.

Pavillion of Supreme Harmony

Three front halls.

Dowager's quarters.

Palace garden.

Gigi, Linda & Ruth at Ti'anamen Square

People's Building Ti'anamen Square

The Birdcage

Eastern Toilet

May 4 - Nagasaki, Japan - This is the first rainy day we experienced on this whole cruise while in port, so we decided we could not complain. We went to the Peace Park, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Glover Gardens.

Peace Statue

Fountain represents 2 doves with peace statue in middle.

Tamaki Mura as Madame Butterfly with son pointing to husband's ship returning (in Glover Gardens)

View of bay from Glover Gardens

Returning to ship from Glover Gardens.

On May 6 and 7 we were in Osaka - still rainy and chilly. We took a tour the first day and saw Osaka Castle (rebuilt 8 times due to war and natural disasters) and the Shitennoji Temple (believed to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan). On the second day we rode the Ferris Wheel & visited the Aquarium.