After over 800 miles through snow, sleet, fog (ice fog?!) and even some beautiful weather, it is time to take back the rental car.  I increased the mileage by almost 30% - yes, a brand new little Vibe (supposedly mid-sized?).  Sure was fun!!  I love driving - I guess ... 16,000 miles in the summer of 2004 is sort of is a hint, eh?

I haven't driven since I left for Shanghai and as hard as it is to give up the car, I am looking forward to figuring out how to get around without!!  Of course, Salt Lake City is probably THE best city to get around without a vehicle!  The buses go out to the airport, there is a light rail from the bus to my hotel.  Furthermore, the bus stops outside the hotel and goes all the way up to the two resorts at which I ski!  Getting over to Grand Junction - we'll see. 

I expect to make it down to San Diego the last week of my trip so the trip to Grand Junction will need to begin sometime early next week, I suppose!!  Laughing - we'll see. 

Shanghai - the Chinese have their own version of driving and I really don't want any part of it.  They don't seem to get road rage, upset and hardly even ever seem frustrated or angry - yet the English speaking passengers often do!!!  The Shanghainese merge - they merge all the time and SUCCESSFULLY (meaning most often no one gets hurt!).

It is unbelievable unless you see it.  A woman with her child on the back of a bicycle will travel diagonally across six lanes of traffic in an intersection while others are maneuvering through it too!!!  AND THIS IS NORMAL!  The motorcycles drive right through red lights - all the time!!! ...

But HEY - I will be back in the flow of that system fast enough so I will just continue to enjoy relaxing here in SLC!