Konnichiwa! LH F (via FRA FCT & a 911) to Japan for Sakura. Back home via Shanghai.
Jun 21, 2017, 5:56 am
#151
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
Another beautiful Shanghai morning.
The corridors of the PH are a bit of a maze...
...but I found my way to the pool nevertheless.
It's getting hot in here.
Mrs JohnRain decided to sleep in, which meant a double breakfast for me.
Easter was just around the corner.
I went for a walk and explored the residential neighbourhood of the PH...
...only to run into Nassim Taleb's favourite animals. No fund manager can remain calm when seeing one of these.
Iconic high rises.
A relaxing walk through Fuxing park.
The remains of a once powerful bank (thanks Obama).
Afternoon tea at Cachet at the Langham. We spent several hours there as it is a prime spot for people watching. A couple of escorts, pimps and other flamboyant Shanghainese later...
... we returned to the PH.
I'll miss that view.
Walking to the Ritz-Carlton.
Dinner & drinks at Flair rooftop restaurant & bar.
Up Next: Concluding our stay with an afternoon tea at the Pen and dinner at RC's Scena restaurant.
The corridors of the PH are a bit of a maze...
...but I found my way to the pool nevertheless.
It's getting hot in here.
Mrs JohnRain decided to sleep in, which meant a double breakfast for me.
Easter was just around the corner.
I went for a walk and explored the residential neighbourhood of the PH...
...only to run into Nassim Taleb's favourite animals. No fund manager can remain calm when seeing one of these.
Iconic high rises.
A relaxing walk through Fuxing park.
The remains of a once powerful bank (thanks Obama).
Afternoon tea at Cachet at the Langham. We spent several hours there as it is a prime spot for people watching. A couple of escorts, pimps and other flamboyant Shanghainese later...
... we returned to the PH.
I'll miss that view.
Walking to the Ritz-Carlton.
Dinner & drinks at Flair rooftop restaurant & bar.
Up Next: Concluding our stay with an afternoon tea at the Pen and dinner at RC's Scena restaurant.
Jun 23, 2017, 3:13 pm
#152
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 873
I love afternoon tea at the Pen in Shanghai! When I was there early last year they had a wonderful pianist who classed up some Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez tunes.
There is a nice little Italian restaurant on the Bund not too far from the Pen, called Goodfellas. Pen concierge had recommended it to me and it was great. Went there on both of my last two Shanghai trips.
There is a nice little Italian restaurant on the Bund not too far from the Pen, called Goodfellas. Pen concierge had recommended it to me and it was great. Went there on both of my last two Shanghai trips.
Jun 27, 2017, 2:42 am
#153
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
I love afternoon tea at the Pen in Shanghai! When I was there early last year they had a wonderful pianist who classed up some Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez tunes.
There is a nice little Italian restaurant on the Bund not too far from the Pen, called Goodfellas. Pen concierge had recommended it to me and it was great. Went there on both of my last two Shanghai trips.
There is a nice little Italian restaurant on the Bund not too far from the Pen, called Goodfellas. Pen concierge had recommended it to me and it was great. Went there on both of my last two Shanghai trips.
Thanks for the tip regarding Goodfellas.
Update: the next installment will be online tomorrow.
Jun 28, 2017, 6:38 am
#154
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
No breakfast pics today but instead a look at the impressive structure of the Park Hyatt, as seen from the breakfast room.
Random impressions from the Bund.
Monaco, London, Miami? Nope. The People's Republic's finest.
Pudong seen from the Bund.
Views from the Hyatt on the Bund.
Views from Sir Elly's Terrace at the Peninsula.
Lambos & skyscrapers, my kind of communism.
I've had Afternoon Tea at many of London's most venerable institutions and it was always pretty average.
My personal gold standard remains the Bristol in Paris, especially when you can enjoy it on the terrace of Le Jardin Français.
The Pen Shanghai did a good job as well with attentive service and tasty patries.
I dodged a bullet here...
...but Mrs JohnRain was quick in finding a more generous companion.
The immediate surroundings of the Pen look much more French that the actual French concession.
On our way to the Ritz-Carlton (again)...
...for an enjoyable dinner at Scena.
Up Next: Dear Lufthansa, I like you a lot and all, but why do you always have to make me fly in empty F cabins? You're putting me in a tight spot you know...
Random impressions from the Bund.
Monaco, London, Miami? Nope. The People's Republic's finest.
Pudong seen from the Bund.
Views from the Hyatt on the Bund.
Views from Sir Elly's Terrace at the Peninsula.
Lambos & skyscrapers, my kind of communism.
I've had Afternoon Tea at many of London's most venerable institutions and it was always pretty average.
My personal gold standard remains the Bristol in Paris, especially when you can enjoy it on the terrace of Le Jardin Français.
The Pen Shanghai did a good job as well with attentive service and tasty patries.
I dodged a bullet here...
...but Mrs JohnRain was quick in finding a more generous companion.
The immediate surroundings of the Pen look much more French that the actual French concession.
On our way to the Ritz-Carlton (again)...
...for an enjoyable dinner at Scena.
Up Next: Dear Lufthansa, I like you a lot and all, but why do you always have to make me fly in empty F cabins? You're putting me in a tight spot you know...
Last edited by JohnRain; Jun 28, 2017 at 8:31 am
Jul 3, 2017, 8:41 am
#155
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
Early on the morning of our departure, the weather had changed completely, which made it a little easier to leave this great city.
A last look at our suite.
I had considered taking the Maglev to the airport but the weather was so bad that a limo appeared to be the more comfortable option.
Much to my surprise there was a thorough security process involving bag- and people-screening at the entrance of the terminal. CDG, BRU and others, take note.
The Air China First Class lounge was pleasant enough...
...but I only had a beer as I knew that better food was waiting for me on the plane.
After a messy ground experience -we arrived first at the gate, only to embark on the fourth and last, cramped bus (the announced special bus for F passengers never came)- our spritits lifted immediately when we learned that we had the whole cabin to ourselves.
Willkommen zurück!
A fantastic crew (including a bilingual french/german maître de cabine from Alsace) made sure this flight would be memorable.
This is where you eventually end up when you have a whole bottle of Henriot Cuvée des Enchanteleurs for yourself.
I may have had a glass too many for my standards, but fortunately LH had installed those baby safety gates to prevent a most embarrassing incident.
The pretzel was more than welcome to keep the Champagne some company.
So was the caviar.
As so often, the appetizer trio was just ok.
The main on the other hand was good.
Cheese & dessert rarely disappoint on LH.
Now, how did I do that? There are only two chocolates missing in the box...
...but there are three on my plate...
I'll leave you to it while I'm napping a bit....
...never losing that bottle out of sight.
Strangely enough the snacks on LH are often better than the main meal service and today was no exception.
A few more impressions...
Hello FRA...
...and bye A380, my favourite plane by far.
Easter at the FCT...
... and of course the Easter-themed rubber ducky.
Austrian Tempura.
What better way to conclude this trip than with a fine Japanese whisky.
The FCT wasn't too crowded...
...leaving me my choice of seats to enjoy its legendary taxi stand view.
En voiture!
Yay, another intra-European LH J segment...
...and its mandatory bulhead-jacket shot...
As always, thanks a lot for following along, I hope you enjoyed this trip as much as I did...
A last look at our suite.
I had considered taking the Maglev to the airport but the weather was so bad that a limo appeared to be the more comfortable option.
Much to my surprise there was a thorough security process involving bag- and people-screening at the entrance of the terminal. CDG, BRU and others, take note.
The Air China First Class lounge was pleasant enough...
...but I only had a beer as I knew that better food was waiting for me on the plane.
After a messy ground experience -we arrived first at the gate, only to embark on the fourth and last, cramped bus (the announced special bus for F passengers never came)- our spritits lifted immediately when we learned that we had the whole cabin to ourselves.
Willkommen zurück!
A fantastic crew (including a bilingual french/german maître de cabine from Alsace) made sure this flight would be memorable.
This is where you eventually end up when you have a whole bottle of Henriot Cuvée des Enchanteleurs for yourself.
I may have had a glass too many for my standards, but fortunately LH had installed those baby safety gates to prevent a most embarrassing incident.
The pretzel was more than welcome to keep the Champagne some company.
So was the caviar.
As so often, the appetizer trio was just ok.
The main on the other hand was good.
Cheese & dessert rarely disappoint on LH.
Now, how did I do that? There are only two chocolates missing in the box...
...but there are three on my plate...
I'll leave you to it while I'm napping a bit....
...never losing that bottle out of sight.
Strangely enough the snacks on LH are often better than the main meal service and today was no exception.
A few more impressions...
Hello FRA...
...and bye A380, my favourite plane by far.
Easter at the FCT...
... and of course the Easter-themed rubber ducky.
Austrian Tempura.
What better way to conclude this trip than with a fine Japanese whisky.
The FCT wasn't too crowded...
...leaving me my choice of seats to enjoy its legendary taxi stand view.
En voiture!
Yay, another intra-European LH J segment...
...and its mandatory bulhead-jacket shot...
As always, thanks a lot for following along, I hope you enjoyed this trip as much as I did...
Jul 4, 2017, 8:08 am
#157
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Jul 6, 2017, 1:11 am
#158
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
Thanks so much for your kind words, Aventine! Glad that you enjoyed my report.
I've never flown with CA which means I didn't know what to expect, but their PVG F lounge at least is decent enough.
Thanks a lot, TPJ!
Thanks a lot, TPJ!
Jul 13, 2017, 11:07 am
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,145
Ah, the memories your report brings back... Both on the ground and in the air, Lufthansa's First is a wonderful way to fly. Thanks for documenting it so nicely. ^^
Jul 13, 2017, 1:13 pm
#162
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
Thanks for an amazing TR - love your fashion style.
Japan is facinating, Sakura time is wonderful.
After looking at those pics of Shanghai must move that up my bucket list
Japan is facinating, Sakura time is wonderful.
After looking at those pics of Shanghai must move that up my bucket list
Jul 13, 2017, 1:16 pm
#163
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
Thanks for an amazing TR - love your fashion style.
Japan is facinating, Sakura time is wonderful.
After looking at those pics of Shanghai must move that up my bucket list
Japan is facinating, Sakura time is wonderful.
After looking at those pics of Shanghai must move that up my bucket list
Jul 13, 2017, 2:15 pm
#164
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan Airmiles AMEX-MR Alaska Airlines
Posts: 692
Thank you JohnRainfor this awesome TR. Pics are spectacular as usual - I have to pick your brain on how the night shots came out so crisp. I suck at those. 
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Jul 14, 2017, 6:00 am
#165
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SZG/MUC
Posts: 348
Looking to do the same.
Thanks!!!
