Shanghai's Old City

Saturday arrived. We had to be to the railroad station by four o'clock so we could catch the train back at six.  There were still a couple of things we wanted to see before leaving Shanghai.  One was the Old City and the other was their museum. It took a little while for two old ladies to wake up and start moving after the many activities from the previous days, but we were finally on our way again. Each turn in the road presented a new scene of the city as we walked toward our destination.

At last we came to the old city - or at least that is what we thought as we snapped the picture below. All of a sudden a voice behind us said, "That is not an old building. It was build 20 years ago to look like the old buildings in China. I will show you the way to the Old City.

We turned around to discover this smiling man walking behind us. As he guided us toward the old part of the city, we struck up a conversation.  The first thing he wanted to know is where we were from. When we told him we were from Utah, he responded that he has a brother  who is a Mormon and lives in Spanish Fork. (What are the odds?) He explained that after the Cultural Revolution, his brother wanted to go to school in the USA. In his search for a place to go, he came across BYU in Provo, Utah. He liked what he could tell about it, and decided to apply. He was accepted by BYU, but then he had to apply for a visa. At that time it was very difficult to get a visa, and often took three or four times of applying before receiving one. He received his visa on the first visit. It turns our the man in charge of his line was a Mormon. When he saw the visa was for BYU, he granted it. His brother is an artist and lives with his family in Spanish Fork. Such a small world.

Then we stepped into the Old City. Even though there were quite a few people there that day, it was very peaceful and quiet compared to the hustle and bustle outside

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 The Chinese usually don't like to have their pictures taken, but the sweet lady smiled broadly for the camera, and I took the pictures of the beautiful children without them knowing.

At the end of our time spent in the Old City, we stepped out into a very busy, crowded and noisy street.

Heading to the museum. We think we have enough time to spend a little time there before heading to the airport. See you there.