Newshangfoundhailand

Welcome to Shanghai, Laura! Air Canada's faulty equipment meant we had two extra hours of anticipation before our gleeful reunion at the arrivals gate. Laura had her first taste of Shanghai culture (ie. shoving/yelling/general chaos) as we fought our way onto the airport bus, but we arrived home safely and with just enough energy left to toast (slightly late) Christmas Number Four. On the menu: wine and goat cheese, as per tradition.

Today I conquered my cheap wine hangover while Laura worked through her jetlag (jetgo? She was ready to hit the town at seven a.m.); we finally made it out the door to Yuyuan, or Shanghai's Old Town - a little touristy but fabulous for shopping and getting a feel of what it might have felt like here before the population hit its current 16 million. Highlights: a giant Year of the Ox display thing, and a motorcycle taxi ride to Nanjing Donglu. Chalk that one up to irresponsible youth.

Tomorrow evening we're heading to Beijing on the overnight train to take in the Great Wall (bien sur), the Olympic Park, and whatever else tickles our fancy. Please enjoy our first round of pics:

1. CLEENK! The Fourth Annual Claire and Laura Christmas Reunion begins
2. All the essentials. Great Wall: the pride of China's red wine industry. Or something. Whatever, it sure packed a punch
3. Yuyuan, or the Old Town... pointy peaks and all
4. The motorcycle taxi driver driving on the correct side of the yellow line. For now
5. Yiiiiiii!