Big City, Very Bright Lights?
Hmm. Thought the train was supposed to arrive at 8am! It was 10am before we were in Shanghai! Met up with Maria outside the carriage and we said our farewells in the square outside the station - she to find an internet cafe to find out where to meet her friend and me to find my way to the hostel.
Getting in the metro station was easy. Trying to figure out what line I wanted to take was somewhat more difficult as there were NO metre maps anyway to be seen. I was pretty sure I wanted line 1 to start with and then to transfer to line 2, and had the little map on the business card for the hostel that I could show to the cashier to purchase the required ticket. Very simple really. I think if you have travelled around on the Tube then metro's anywhere in the world are pretty easy, especially when they are so much smaller!
The hostel is probably about 15-20 walk when you're carrying heavy bags but it is very easy to find.
Shanghai is a big city. What else can I say.... Pretty lights at night.Trying to think of anything that was memorable but not really. Alot of tourists. Alot of touts. Like, do I ever look like the sort of person who needs a prada handbag?!! yes, yes, stop laughing. The touts would come up to and say hello and try to have a conversation. I actually got really fed up of this here and instead of being polite and saying go away, I'd reply in random irish phrase. This would then having them guessing what nationality I was because, of course, they could speak german, french and spanish as well! Aw well, it amused be for a short period of time. Though maybe I should get round to learning Irish for my next trip.
