Hi, I've got a question about Shanghai.

Am I right if I guess that you stayed in the "Shanghai Mansions Hotel" (Formerly "Broadway Mansions Hotel") in 20 North Suzhou Road? I think that Metal Bridge on that photo is the "Garden Bridge" over the Suzhou River (tributary of Huangpu River). I was in Shaghai at about the same time. The last hotel where we stayed was the South building of the "Peace Hotel". And that photo with the fishes. Was it taken near the Yuyuan Garden? In the Old Chinesedistrict? By the way, we were in Beijing too. We also had to wait some hours at the airport when flying back to Shanghai. (We flew back to Shanghai the day before you flew to Beijing, I think)

I hope you enjoyed your stay in China!

Thanks, Jessica. No, we stayed at the Pavillion Century Court, which is pretty much right next door to the Mansions. Very nice hotel with some stunning views and good service, although the breakfast left a lot to be desired. And yes, the picture with the fishes was indeed taken near Yuyuan Garden.

Funny story about our delay at Hong Qiao airport: Whitney Huston played Shanghai the previous evening, and was on her way to do a second show in Beijing at the same time we were travelling. We bumped into her (and her very large bodyguards) at check-in; her posse came into the same restaurant as we did to grab lunch; and when we finally boarded our plane, four hours late, their entourage occupied a number of economy seats back where we were sitting, while Whitney, Bobby, and their closest compadres sat up in business. The whole thing felt very absurd: flying from Shanghai to Beijing together with a drug-addicted pop diva, her criminally abusive husband, their kids and nannies, and her crew. If we'd gone down, at least we would have been remembered.

Picture time!

"I said he went thataway, woman!"

Making brooms in Fuxing Park.

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