Day 2 - Off the tourist path

Went on a morning trip to the Fabric Market, got a taxi from the hotel, armed with the address printed in Chinese. Perfect no hitches.  The fabric market was a major disappointment and walked away with nil cash changing hands. Having my bearings decided to walk towards home and take in Shanghai outside of the normal tourist path. Found a Metro station halfway, and can now say I have metro slickered.

Washing hangs everywhere, and this is one of the better apartment blocks. In the background you can see bamboo scaffolding. Note the red Tardis in the foreground, almost everyone in the streets has a phone attached to their ear, so not sure who uses public telephones, maybe the attraction is the attached wireless hotspot.

This morning there was blue sky, with minimal smog.

Photo comp - what is missing?

Answer - no people or vehicles or chaos. Not sure how I jagged this one.

Sent this photo to Dick, and suggested he showed it to his pigeons, just so they knew how lucky they are. It is not snowing in Shanghai, but the temperature is close to zero at night. No heated loft in Shanghai. Perhaps these pigeons may get wind of the good conditions in Rhode Island and emigrate!

The People's Park, not sure if the translator got bored or the Chinese includes the words "and so on"

The park reminded me of Central Park in New York, a common green space. Exception I did not see masses of umbrellas in Central Park. This is the matchmakers market for parent eager to find the right partner for their "ONE" child. The ramifications of this policy have resulted in a disproportionate ratio of men to women.

Each umbrella is used as a prop to advertise their children as an offer for marriage. Details include age, zodiac signs, income and contact phone number etc. The children are not involved and mostly disapproving. It is a transition from the traditional family matchmaking to modern independence of the current generation.