Set the alarm for 8 am this morning but awake at 6 am with
this stupid cold. Not to worry, anti histamine, a couple of Panadol and some OJ
and I’ll be all good. Packed bags and wandered down to the hotel breakfast just
for simplicity. Checked out and just enough time to pop across to the pharmacy
and with total lack of language skills got some paracetamol type tablets in total
Chinese packaging with no English description. Got back to hotel and with the
translator app attached to WeChat found out all good; we’ll soon see I suppose.
Our pickup was on time with her driver and took us straight to the Railway
Station. We arrived just over an hour before the train was due to leave, so had
a quick look around this massive terminal and grabbed a Maccas coffee ( the
only coffee available) and waited to be called. It was train D1979 from
platform A18 at 12.03pm and as we have found so far, right on time.
We were in first class seats this trip so only 2 abreast and
even more legroom, so beats flying. The scenery was excellent when not going
through the tunnels as it changed rapidly into rice fields and then high
mountain ranges. Once again an uneventful trip and a wonderfully smooth ride, loving
these Chinese trains.
When we arrived at Chongqing station our Wendy Wu pickup was
waiting with sign and we were quickly into the car and whisked through this large city (largest
in China over 34 million people) down to the wharf for embarkation onto the MV
Anna (Victoria Cruises). Alice warned us that there would be baggage carriers
to meet us and carry our bags on but not to worry. Well when we arrived there
were heaps and this little old guy (had to be 4 foot nothing) grabbed my bag
and then they all started arguing. Apparently he was not the normal guy they
use and the other guy was upset. This continued for a few minutes but in the
end all sorted and down to the boat. Across a "gangplank" for a reasonable distance and you would not have wanted to fall in as the river was flowing extremely fast. Got an upgrade to a Junior Suite which was
nice with own balcony on the promenade level; dropped our gear and went for a
walk around. The views of the city were good and we attended the general
introduction and life vest instructions before settling back with a cocktail
and beer to watch the sun set and the lights of the city illuminate before the
boat pulled out on our first ever cruise. An early night as up and on our first Optional
tour tomorrow morning at 8 am.
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