Tur-tle!

Since E and I conquered the Metro three days ago our days of reclusiveness are done.  Yesterday we rode Line 2 and bee-lined to the Shanghai Aquarium, where I immediately purchased an annual membership in anticipation of needing a necessary refuge from the upcoming scorching season. The aquarium features one of those giant tanks that defy architecture, bending playfully just inches above your head while a people mover transports you past a multi-million gallon tank of water.  It was here that E spotted two green sea turtles the size of dorm fridges and just about broke down in bliss-driven tears. He chanted “tur-tle! tur-tle!”, while pressing his wee nose to the glass to commune with the charismatic megafauna. He may some day hate us for being too young to recall these memories.

The jelly exhibit was spectacular - designed perhaps more for the LSD trippers than for the kids with its multiple tanks of pulsing, twitching, neon crowd pleasers.  E stood in the dark - temporarily abandoning his manic state - in order to fix his gaze on some mushroom shaped jellies when a Chinese girl walked up and offered a shy “Ni-hao!”.  E squinted his eyes in response and wobbled his head like a 1970s rocker, which seems to work every time with the la-dies.

Having had transportation success yesterday today we headed across the river on a reconnaissance mission into Yuyuan Bazaar and Gardens.  This involved a Metro transfer (advanced move for the two of us) from Line 2 to Line 10. Success!  Boarding the Metro, I had to deconstruct the stroller in fear of “people hating me” (see previous post) for siphoning away valuable subway space. However, this placed my active young toddler in a far more mobile position than was anticipated or desired.  Fortunately, a young man busied E by reading him words from the Chinese newspaper, and, with limited Metro seating, another helped prop the smiling toddler onto the subway car ledge while showing me how to secure him in place with my hand.  This same elderly gentleman helped reassemble the stroller and push it off the Metro, while I buckled the boy back into place. (Note: Grandma B. is likely cringing as she reads this as she fears me overly trusting and naïve. I say you can smell sincerity like a pan of fried onions).   Say what you wish about the world going to hell in a hand-basket.  There are lovely folk in every nook of the planet just burning to serve.

Photos:  E in his new Asian outfit. Sadly, it's more difficult to take pictures on our daily jaunts because of logistics.