Shanghai shopping

I have had some fun Shanghai shopping adventures lately. My friend Liz found the deal of a century on some copies of the Terra Cotta Warriors, so I met her at Dong Tai Lu to place some orders. My tutor, Dean, came with us as the vendor doesn't speak English very well and we had some high finance to accomplish. We met on the street with all the vendors: Dong Tai Lu is a fabulous outdoor "antiques" market, full of all the Asian trinkets, old and new, you could ever wish for. And those you didn't even know you were wishing for! Liz was placing numerous orders for co-workers, and I was placing orders for friends, as well. After meeting in front of the stall, the vendor took us on this route down several alley's.........A beautiful warm day to be washing clothes - although it is done in the freezing cold as well. Once you get off the main streets into the back lanes, like ours, you can really begin seeing daily life. Behind the green bucket is a corrugated stone that she was scrubbing the clothes on. I would say that the average Chinese person is very "green" in their living. They hand wash their clothes and air dry them; don't turn on lights during the day; don't turn on the heat (even if they happened to have it); hand wash dishes in one bucket of water (as with the clothes - no water waste). Lessons to be learned. And for the most part ride bikes, walk or take public transportation.

Liz with a co-worker, Susan.
We truly felt like we were doing some back lane dealing!
After several lanes and twists and turns we made it to the "warehouse."
This room couldn't be larger than 15 x 15 and stacked to the brim. We had to stand in once place or step outside the door.
Dean making sure the everything is proceeding as it should.
Our lovely vendor with her treasures surrounding her.
The day before I had taken my friend Julie out to a furniture warehouse out west. She is looking for an opium bed to take home and we had fun being educated on the difference between opium beds and wedding beds. Wedding beds envelope you in a canopy-like setting, with different kinds of tops and sides to be had - painted, carved, openings to hang fabric to stay cozy and private. Opium beds are more like large day beds with a portable small table in the middle to put all the opium paraphanalia that might be needed. I think it would be fun to use the small table for gaming, instead! Anyway, another far and away fun hunting adventure.

I strolled around Taikong Lu after dropping Storey and her friend at pottery on Saturday morning, never tiring of the beautiful buildings and every day life going on.
Such beautiful grey brick.
Fresh vegetables for sale, never mind the clothes drying above!

Work has resumed on our lane after the holiday break. The front gates are being repainted, with no attention at all given to dripping the black paint all over the gold portions of the gate. I guess they will go back and repaint the gold! Power washing was done on all the lanes today, maybe helping to sweep away all the fireworks residue. More painting, touching up, is also happening. It never seems to end. It is a beautiful lane!
The girls are home from school. Storey is needing help hanging some magazine pictures from a teen magazine that Marianne sent them! We had a great care package from mom and Marianne with stuffed animals, American Girl dolls, Berenstain Bear books and Valentines goodies. Thank you Mom and Marianne!!!