S H A N G H A I

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            We arrived at the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station at 2:55PM.  Amazingly, we were in a taxi at 3:05PM en route to the Holiday Inn Downtown.  Our ride took almost an hour due to heavy traffic.  That being said, the fare was still quite reasonable at less than $15USD.  Upon arrival at the Holiday Inn, we went immediately to the Executive Club.  There we were checked in by Aimee, one of the Club employees we have had the pleasure of knowing for many years, who is now the Club Manager.  Afterwards we settled into our room and then returned to the Club for happy hour at 5:30PM. 

            On Wednesday, 3 February, we decided to take the metro to Hongqiao Airport to see if the route would be viable with luggage when we travel to Fuyang with Yuanyuan on Saturday morning.  Our conclusion…  the route would not work as there are many, many stairs without escalator access.  However, we decided it will work when we return from Fuyang to Shanghai after our Lunar New Year celebration since our baggage will be very light after we deliver our Lunar New Year gifts to Yuanyuan and her family.  The metro and airport were crowded but manageable; obviously many individuals had already left Shanghai to return to their home towns.  We later took the metro to one of the city’s Wanda Plaza shopping centers to see the Lunar New Year sale items – lots of colorful red Monkeys! 

            On Thursday, 4 February, we caught up on business and enjoyed the Club Floor.  We didn’t do any additional touring as we wanted to rest before seeing Yuanyuan the following morning and then traveling to Fuyang on Saturday.

            We met Yuanyuan at ~11:45AM under the clock at the Shanghai Railway Station after she arrived from Suzhou via a high-speed train.  We took the short walk to the Holiday Inn and checked Yuanyuan into her Executive Floor room.  Afterwards, we relaxed while she settled in, took a shower and a nap.  Yuanyuan had a very full day as she first went to work before taking the 11:00AM high-speed train from Suzhou to Shanghai.  The Executive Club closed at 2:00PM to give all staff members the Lunar New Year holiday off.  So, we enjoyed happy hour in the hotel bar and ordered snack food (pizza, chicken wings, French fries, spring rolls) for our dinner.  At 8:00PM we headed to bed in anticipation of our early morning departure.

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