Shanghai

This is an incredible city! The whole place is like a Times Square explosion. The first night we were here, it was raining. Between the rain, the endless neon, the crowds of people, the lights on all the gigantic buildings (all changing colors), the Jumbotron screens on the sides of buildings, the moving and talking ads -- it was like something out of "Blade Runner." In the daytime it's not quite so surreal.

The heart of the city is the Bund, a major thoroughfare that follows the river. On one side is a pedestrian walkway, like El Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, but much bigger (everything in Shanghai is much bigger). It looks out on Pudong, an island neighborhood that used to be all slums and brothels. In 1990, it was named a special economic zone, and now boasts the largest buildings in China, such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, pictured above. The walkway is jammed with sightseers, vendors, and people taking pictures from all angles. I've never seen so many cameras in my life. Our guide tells us that locals rarely go there.

The inland side of the Bund features European-style buildings constructed by Victor Sassoon, the Jewish founder of the city in 1850, and his peers (and competitors). The street looks like it was lifted straight out of London.

The main street leading away from the Bund is Nanjing Road. It is lined with shops of every description (and, in fact, many I cannot describe). The eastern part is the cheaper side; the western part (where the Ritz Carlton is) is the more expensive side. There is a noticeable difference when you switch sides.

Today we will go to the Yu Yuan Market in the Old City. This is a tangle of tiny alleys filled with little shops and stalls that sell everything you can imagine (and some things you couldn't dream of). This is where we will do the bulk of our gift shopping. We are just doing our part to support international economic relations.

Will post more photos soon.