Phil's China Viking Yangtze River Cruise - Blog 2
One of the more stranger highlights of yesterday was the local law enforcement vehicles! I'm not sure how many villans they are going to catch in one of these!!
Anyway back to the blog and morning always comes around too quick after a late night..!
We managed to stumble across Shanghai's local Irish bar with a group playing 80's music. Sad, I know but when you reach 40 this is a good night out. Anyway, enough of this and back to the real China.
For many people and I am one, the idea of a tour is moving cases, checking in for flights etc, but with Viking River Cruises you put your luggage outside your door at 7am and you do not see it again until you arrive in your cabin on the ship.
Viking River Cruises are extremely organised and professional. I am impressed with the guide we have for our whole tour - Bonnie takes care of everything.
After making the appropriate arrangements, including checking out, the day started with a visit to see how the Chinese weave the silk to make carpets.
We arrived promptly to view the carpets being woven, some of which take over 4 yrs for a single girl to weave! If you want to make a purchase you can haggle some purchases down from the standard 10% discount to almost 25% and when many of the carpets are priced over $1000 its worth it.
After a Mongolian BBQ, Bonnie took all our flight and hotel/cruise vouchers in preparation for our short 15 minute transfer to the airport in preparation for our flight to Yi Chang.
On the flight I remembered it is my sisters birthday today. So "Happy Birthday Sally from the Yangtze River, sorry I can't be with you today but I hope you have a great day. X " requests over....
When we arrived at the airport Bonnie had checked everyone in, handed us our passports and boarding cards and off we went.
The whole process from arrival to boarding took no more than 45 minutes! Viking really do take the hassle out of everything. In fact the only thing to go beep through security were my cough sweets - which is rather worrying as I have eaten most of them!
The flight took approx 1hr 50min and we were straight off the plane and on to the "Bonnie Bus" for a 1hr 30min drive to the ship.
Due to the construction of the new dam, a new road has been laid which has cut the journey time by 1hr. This road is only open to workers of the dam and tourist coach transfers, it has yet to be opened to the public.
True to their word, Viking had delivered our baggage to the cabin.
We had a super meal onboard and retired to the lounge for drinks and entertainment. Now let me tell you "entertainment" is not in the true sense of the world. You do not go on a river cruise for cabaret. The real entertainment is the people you meet.
I have met some fantastic people, and we've told and listened to some great stories. From people who live in New York to my lovely friend Rozanne who lives in Milwaukee.
We are now in real China and our adventure is about to begin.
If you are wondering what happened to the high speed train - there are two airports in Shanghai and the train didn't go to the domestic airport. Gutted, yes!
Tomorrow we are going to see the dam, more pictures and info will follow. Plus some more shout outs...look out!
Phil - on the Yangtze.
(re comment below - image of our tour guide Bonnie) - Phil..
