Tianjin/China

7.4.2024 Tianjin

As soon as I left the ship, I was interviewed in the terminal by a TV reporter and cameraman. Unfortunately, my appearance was not used in the later broadcast.

Outside the terminal, I was approached by several people who wanted to arrange a private taxi for me. One of them advertised an English-speaking driver (his wife), we agreed on a flat rate for up to eight hours, and he took me to his car. It was a Trumpchi electric vehicle. I liked that.

The driver, who later introduced herself to me as Rebecca, spoke enough English to communicate with her, and she understood that our first stop had to be an ATM so I could pay her.

I got to know the financial district of Tianjin with its chic office tower with a large flowering meadow in front of it and blossoming Japanese cherry trees right next to it. That made the city of 13 million people likeable right away.

We then continued on to my actual destination, the radio and television tower, which is about 80 km from my ship. Not only is it one of the ten highest in the world, but it is also unique in that it is completely surrounded by water.

After a somewhat complicated ticket purchase, which my driver carried out, we drove up to the observation deck and enjoyed the magnificent view.

I had chosen the slightly more expensive ticket category and so we were allowed to climb a wooden staircase to the upper floor, which to my surprise contains a library with lending books and a cat enclosure. One object consists of a cloud from which it rains incessantly. There are also comfortable seats, cushions in the rotating window area, a café and a souvenir shop. Reading above the clouds - that's something!

After a while we went back to the ground floor, where another part of the library is located. On the wall is a hammer and sickle, and below it, according to my translator, is an oath of loyalty to the Communist Party.

Next I wanted to go out to eat. First Rebecca took me to a high-class hotel restaurant. I was happy when she herself stated that the prices there were very excessive.

We continued on to another much more modest establishment, where an aquarium with fish, shrimp and mussels on the ground floor offered a wide selection. I opted for a huge mussel. Then we went up one floor (I had invited Rebecca to dinner, of course). The mussel, which was served with rice noodles, would have been enough for me, but Rebecca had ordered a bean stew for herself and a chicken dish for the two of us. I had the dubious pleasure of gnawing on a chicken leg. Finally, I had to try the vegetarian "dumplings" for which the restaurant is supposedly famous. I was stuffed afterwards.

I now had only one wish: to buy shoes. My trusty shoes now had spots where the sole had clearly separated from the upper part. So we drove near a very colorful pedestrian zone. I could have spent days there sampling the delicacies on offer. There aren't many shoe shops there. We found two. The first one didn't have anything in my size (I already knew this problem), in the second I found slippers that were the right color and size. I didn't think they were that great in terms of design, but I couldn't afford to be picky and bought them for a small amount of money.

Then we set off on the hour-long journey home. After I had paid the fare, Rebecca surprised me by giving me a big hug goodbye. She must have enjoyed the day as much as I did.

After dinner, the theater hosted a performance by Chinese artists called "Harmony in Motion".

Amazingly, I was still fit enough to watch the late screening of the James Bond film "Die Another Day".