Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!)

Well, one thing is for sure...the Chinese New Year is a really big deal! We have never seen anything like this, that's for sure. Here are a few of the highlights after Day 1.

Fireworks

Fireworks are really a big part of the New Year's celebrations. Supposedly, the fireworks help to get rid of the evil spirits that have been hanging out since last year's New Year celebrations. You are supposed to keep your windows closed and locked so that when the evil spirits start to run from the noise, they won't find a new home in yours. Everyone has been warning us about how loud the fireworks were going to be. And while we believed them, we really didn't know how loud they could actually be.

We were woken up around 11PM last night by what I was convinced was a bomb going off in our room. My first thought was the kids...please don't wake up the kids!! After I found them undisturbed by the horrendous noise and vibrating walls, I opened the blinds to find full-fledged fireworks being shot off literally across the street from us and exploding right at our window on the 12th floor. It was so close that the debris from the fireworks was hitting our windows. The locals across the street luckily ran out of fireworks after about 20 minutes, but the fireworks continued all over the city until the wee hours of the morning. I felt like I was a reporter for CNN trapped in a hotel room in the middle of Baghdad. It was CRAZY! We are anxiously awaiting for night #2 to see how it compares.

People
Today we saw just how populous this city is. 25 million people didn't have to go to work today and the ones that stayed in Shanghai for the New Year were all out and about, shopping, walking the city, and enjoying the 60 degree weather. It was quite a sight with all the red and gold decorations, the red lanterns, and the bunnies (since it is the year of the rabbit). Eric kept saying how he loved the lanterns and how it was so amazing!

Once we got into the really crowded areas, it got a bit overwhelming. Pia is a bit of a celebrity over here and everyone wants to either touch her or take their picture with her. No kidding, she will probably be in at least 30 people's family albums after today. She is a good sport about her new found fame, much better than her parents. After literally getting mobbed at the Bund, we packed up shop and got in a cab (something I swore I would never do with the kids!) A bit much. The playground and the picnic tables at our hotel were a welcomed refuge.

Food
Lots of it. Duck, pork, chicken, all cooked whole of course. We have stayed on the safe side so far, but it makes for good conversation with Eric. And Pia likes making the noises that all the animals makes.

6 days of the Spring Festival left. Can't wait to see what's next!