Day 1

So we left Seattle and flew to Vancouver.. Larry, you were right - we didn't even clear the cloud layer.  It was like "take off, go up, go down, land".  I love those prop jets!  Especially when the propeller is right out your window! I should mention I was VERY proud of myslef with regards to the baggage.  I had weighed everything three times (once you get popped $125 dollars for overweight you learn your lesson!).  I had each bag within three pounds of the 40 pound limit.  Interesting thing, their scale was reading .5 to 1 lb even when there was nothing on it.  If you don't think I would have fought that.........! Anyway, we landed in Vancouver and had to walk twenty miles to international customs where there was a guy who had the personality of an emply beer glass waiting to check our papers.  Then onto the 767 for Shanghai. Uneventfull flight, watched a couple of movies, made the airline buy a couple of drinks and caught a little sleep.  Not much but a little. So we land in Shanghai and they tell us there is an aircraft at our gate so we have to wait on the tarmac for half an hour for them to get their butts in gear.  Then when we pull into our gate we are told that Quarantine will be coming onto the plane to make sure no one is "infected" (little late I think).  The funny thing about this was that when the people came on to pas out the "have you ever had this or that, have you been sick lately, have you been around any pigs lately, when was your last bowel movement" cards they were dressed nicely without masks or gloves.  Then they leave the plane and the guys in then white Haz-Met suits and goggles come on board with thermal guns to shoot everyone and see if they have a temp..  Does anyone see the flaw in this system????? Fortunatally no one had a temp so we all got to go.  A little note here:  They are TOTALLY serious about this.  One plane that Pete's company flew a couple of guys into Shanghai had somoene on it with a temp and the quarantined the whole plane for five days!!! Got our luggage and met Dil.  Great to see her and she had BEER!!! We stopped at the store for some stuff and then headed to her home.  Beautifull place with hardwood floors, about thirty balconies, two pools.....and an "easy bake oven".  You'll understand that part when you see our pictures. Anyway, Pete and the kids were there so we unloaded all the stuff we brought for them and then got setteled.  We are in the "bell tower" which is the highest room in the home with our own bathroom.  We had spaghetti for dinner (I know huh, spaghetti our first night in China) and then chatted untill about nine when neither Diane nor myslef could keep our eyes open any longer.  Bedtime.