Our time in Shanghai brought us to the tallest observatory in the world as well as the World Expo, both of which were filled with people - which means lines. The tower that Joe took us up to was a series of different waiting areas that we experienced, and most people were patient and calmly waiting for most of the experience. I think that we waited in lines for about two or three hours throughout our tour of the observatory - and I'm not a person that likes to stand around - or feel trapped. I think most of us felt trapped up in that tower, just waiting for our turn to get in the elevator and get down and out of there. The view was incredible but the chaos of everyone trying to push their way through the lines to get out was enough to make me never want to stand in another line ever again. Lucky for me, we were going to the Expo the next day - and I was NOT looking forward to it.
As soon as we got off the bus the next day to get ourselves in yet another line - a line just to get through security - I noticed how many people were trying to sell us stools - not the standard little bags and chopsticks that I was used to. I didn't want to buy a stool - why would I want to buy a stool? As soon as we were in line again I reconsidered my decision not to buy one - especially since it was about 8:00 am and I was able to watch other people resting on their stools in line. At 9:00 the line got moving to get everyone through security and then we had to bolt to the USA pavilion to get in another line. The line at the USA building wasn't bad at all - we walked through most of it and made it inside in about ten or fifteen minutes.
By the time we got out of that building there were already so many people on the Expo grounds that I couldn't bear the thought of trying to get into any longer lines so Charlee and I went on a mission to see every building on that side of the park and to try and make our way over the river to the other part. I just couldn't believe how many people were willing to wait for hours and hours just to get into some of the buildings. Nick and Alex stopped to see how long the wait would be for Germany and the guy at the gate told them it would be about six hours. Six hours?! Yeah right - but the people were waiting very patiently - stools and all. I don't think that waits like that would go over very smoothly in America - I could definitely see fights or riots starting after about the second hour of the wait.
To experience the Expo was absolutely incredible and I'm glad that we did it - even after the tower fiasco the day before.
As soon as we got off the bus the next day to get ourselves in yet another line - a line just to get through security - I noticed how many people were trying to sell us stools - not the standard little bags and chopsticks that I was used to. I didn't want to buy a stool - why would I want to buy a stool? As soon as we were in line again I reconsidered my decision not to buy one - especially since it was about 8:00 am and I was able to watch other people resting on their stools in line. At 9:00 the line got moving to get everyone through security and then we had to bolt to the USA pavilion to get in another line. The line at the USA building wasn't bad at all - we walked through most of it and made it inside in about ten or fifteen minutes.
By the time we got out of that building there were already so many people on the Expo grounds that I couldn't bear the thought of trying to get into any longer lines so Charlee and I went on a mission to see every building on that side of the park and to try and make our way over the river to the other part. I just couldn't believe how many people were willing to wait for hours and hours just to get into some of the buildings. Nick and Alex stopped to see how long the wait would be for Germany and the guy at the gate told them it would be about six hours. Six hours?! Yeah right - but the people were waiting very patiently - stools and all. I don't think that waits like that would go over very smoothly in America - I could definitely see fights or riots starting after about the second hour of the wait.
To experience the Expo was absolutely incredible and I'm glad that we did it - even after the tower fiasco the day before.
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