Heavy Load

This may be a polluted city with taxis, buses and more cars per capita appearing on the roads, but so much is still reliant on the bike...Great loads move across the city on the tricycles.

The almost comical summer cane chairs.

 Snack bars...sugar cane

Watermelon man..

Recycling, the constant ringing bells

Such hard work in this weather!

But then again sometimes they don't move too far....a well earned rest

Pottering

After the Seoul trip needed some down time and was planning on an indulgent day at the pool. The Marriot is  500rmb to use the roof top and indoor pool! But thats a minimum spend, so figuring if you have, coffee, cocktails and lunch it soon gets used up! But friend not too well so cancelled and had a fun day pottering instead..
Despite the humdity, cycled off through the French Concession into an area I hadnt explored.
Sandwiched between Jinshan and Xanxi  roads down a lane of old houses, wet markets and repair shops, was Jishan market.

A pleasant area of 'eco' cafes, restaurants and a few shops and the odd spa. Very quiet on a sunday, but small children playing with the rabbits and kittens...

People brunching inside to keep cool. Sat at a table outside and had a well deserved iced coffee and listened to the minor bird chirping away!

And talking of noise, the crickets/ciccadas?? are at full volume right now. Need to do an audio blog! Can only describe the noise as the sound of thousands of rattles rising and falling. Can't even see them which is remarkable! If anyone wants to skype me and I can stand on the balcony 16 floors up for you to hear!
Only sight of them is in baskets for pets!!

Then played tennis for 2 hours in Hongqiao and got bitten to bits by the mozzies....

Sunday Cycle

Sunday cycling. 

A lovely warm afternoon, thankfully a good breeze blowing to deflect the heat, and planning to continue my Park Life Blog. Decided to head off to Lu Shang park, north of Suzhou creek. Joined by Jess, on her bamboo bike (who actually forgets she has left in the office car park -would that have anything to do with the 4.30am saturday night/sunday morning hangover??-good effort Jess!)

Anyway get slightly distracted from the Park Life blog by the amount we see on the way there and back! Here are some hi-lights.

Wet market on Qifu Lu

Time for a quick snack-bread with leeks?? quite tasty but repeats for a while!

Bowls of eels..

Too sad-frogs

Mrs Mop..

Lu Shan Park Life

Arrive at the park, in the north near the football stadium and have a couple of hours strolling. One of the prettiest parks in shanghai, allegedly, and renamed after a famous citizen along with a memorial museum A very busy, very friendly and very musical park.

We both buy a flute, but naturally haven't managed to get a note out of it since!

Most things we stopped to look at we became the focus of a gathering crowd! 


Who were all delightfull-even the park keepers/police???! 

Who were mainly chilling out...

Beautiful caligraphy on the 30rmb fans.

 I want to learn characters..

And more art..Sunday watercolours?

Bunny walking is big here too..

And good for a foot rest too...

Love the out door gyms, great opporunity for everyone to get a workout!

Some serious crunches going on, and some tree slapping

A leg up...

Slight detour on way back due to road works and discover a whole other area being refurbished, a mini Xintiandi. Shanghai's only church/chinese temple and there are sounds of 'Here comes the Bride'. Venture inside and a wedding is taking place, and the bride going down the aisle to full chorus.

Beautiful patterns on the stairs from sun shining through the stain glass. Pass most of the guests still arriving further down the street-how strange!

Further down catch sight of Qipu Lu-cheap street-where all the wholesale clothing, pyjamas and household wares are sold, note to self to go back and have a good look round early morning.

Pit stop for some air in the tyres

Pass by an intriguing lane so cycle off down between the old houses, a few dead ends.

Very atmospheric, glimpses of old Shanghai and cramped lane houses..

Making the most of the old bath..

And then its back over Suzhou creek and home for a cuppa tea. Thanks for the company Jess it was a fun afternoon! Where next?

This was written a month or so ago when the weather was a lot kinder! Delayed due to a malfunction with my photo library in overdrive! so sorted now with a new hard driveand so  I am able to down load this!