China Makes Three: Hello, from Shanghai

Friday, January 22, 2016

Hello, from Shanghai

A ride to the airport in San Francisco, a little over 13 hour plane ride and about an hour ride in Shanghai and we are here! A small city of 22 million...and our daughter is one of them.

A few things I realized yesterday:

I like breakfast buffets.

I like first class on airplanes.

I need to learn to say "No thank you" each time I'm offered something to eat while in first class!

So our day started at the hotel in San Fran with a little breakfast buffet. I felt myself channeling my mom as I was trying a little of this and a little of that - my mom always loved having breakfast at a hotel since she didn't have to cook! Then a ride to the airport and a little time at the United club - more snacks for me. It's like I wasn't sure when I would eat again since we thought we may be in coach on our flight.

Have I mentioned I love my husband's job especially when we get upgraded to global first class on our ride to China?!?!

Our ride to China through the window - a 747

Two happy campers in first class

The flight attendant offered nuts. I said yes. She offered wine. I said yes. She offered soup. I said yes. She offered pork empanada. I said yes. Are you beginning to see I may have a problem??

I didn't want to seem rude so after saying yes to all that, and a dinner, what do you think I said when they came by with the ice cream sundae cart? I said yes and yes and yes to all! Here I am in my food coma!

The good thing is the flight attendant said when they dim the lights everything as zero calories. So I'm going with that as true and believable fact! And because I believe that as truth, I did enjoy breakfast before landing. I told you I need to learn to say "no thank you".

Just a few movies later (ok, about 5 and The Intern with Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway was my favorite!) and we were landing in Shanghai. Through customs we went until we found our guide, Mingming. Yes, I was the American in line at customs that didn't understand what to do when going up to the lady at the window. There was a camera and she was asking me to look at the camera, and I thought I needed to be closer. So I moved closer and closer. She and the guy behind the window were talking with each other and I'm pretty sure it wasn't very nice words about me. Finally I scooted back and the picture was taken. The trouble with international travel when you are not use to it!

Our guide will be escorting us through our appointments while we are here this week. First one, Monday morning to get our Lily!

About an hour ride to the hotel escorted by our guide and driver for the week and we made it to the Marriott. A drop off of our bags in the room and then a quick stop at the concierge lounge for a glass of wine and snacks and we were ready to sleep. We only slept for about an hour on the flight so we'd be ready to sleep when we got here since we arrived Friday night.