(Katie again)
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| Isaac in the hotel lobby in Shanghai |
The strategy on planning the travel on this trip was both simple and complex: they booked their own travel instead of using the adoption agency's travel planners. (The adoption agency often builds a few days into the beginning of the trip for sightseeing with other adoptive families.) Since they had all been to China before, they decided to skip the sightseeing that they've already done and to fly into Shanghai, a city they'd never seen before. And being the smart travelers they are, they built in one extra day in case their travel to China was delayed, so they wouldn't miss their meeting with Samuel.
Saturday was spent exploring Shanghai. It was apparently pretty hot there, as evidenced by their faces in the photos! Mom said they walked to the Bund (a street on the Huangpu River where the British and European countries built banks and trading houses when they controlled Shanghai in the early 1900s) and then on to the Yu Garden (built as a private garden in 1559) before going back to the hotel. The heat index was 110* at 9:30. Dad said that "Shanghai is just like the Amazon, only hot." :)
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| I'm guessing this is by the Huangpu River |
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| Again, still guessing, but I think this is in the Yu Garden |
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| One of the last photos as a family of three |
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| I have no idea where this is, but LOLOLOL |
After a short rest, they went back out to explore and to eat lunch and then quickly retreated back to their hotel room since the heat index was still rising.
Mick, however, being the architect that he is and being gifted with languages like he is, decided to ride the subway to Pudong (the modern part of Shanghai) to enjoy the famous skyscrapers. He was able to go up to the tallest floor in the world!
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| Those buildings are amazing! |
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| The view from the top |
After that day of exploration and retreat, they woke up on Sunday and prepared to fly to Taiyuan. I cannot imagine navigating China on my way to meet my son/grandson/brother... I am sure anxiety is simmering just below the surface for all.
Dad led them in prayer before heading to the airport, which was such a beautiful way to start the journey to the place Samuel waits for them. The meeting is to take place on Monday at 10am, which is Sunday at 9pm for us in the Central US. Please be praying for them. I'll be praying that stress and anxiety are nowhere near their hearts, that they will have exactly the right paperwork to ensure a quick processing within the legal system, and that they experience an immediate and sweet connection to Samuel, a boy they love fiercely already.
I'll update you all when I hear something!
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