So, today was a day to observe random crazy shit on the streets of Shanghai.

First, with the rain from Typhoon Fitow pouring down all day, you had to carry an umbrella, right?  Little did I know there was “umbrella etiquette” to be followed or else incur the wrath of little old ladies.  Stepping into Starbucks with my dripping umbrella, the lady at the door started yelling at me, of course in Chinese so I was oblivious, and the baristas were snickering as she let loose on me with a tirade.  I just waltzed up to the counter to get my badly needed Americano but later realized when she lit into another customer and pointed at the umbrella that she was the one cleaning up after all the stupid foreigners dripping on her floor.  Then, when we went to dinner at Din Tai Fung, the hostess literally wrestled my umbrella away from me, despite my rabid protests, and “checked” it, giving me a claim ticket so when I left I could take away the offensive yet necessary item without it fouling their beautiful floor.  What the hell-who checks an umbrella!!!  Meanwhile even though there are plastic bags at every entrance to sheath the offensive umbrellas, all the buildings are leaking like sieves even though most are upscale and new.  We saw buckets everywhere tonight.  Lesson learned–umbrellas must be closely monitored and behave themselves, lest they be taken away to solitary confinement.

Onto another curiosity–there are bumps in the sidewalks everywhere.  I was told these are for the blind to be able to get around efficiently.  Cool but I have yet to see a blind person using them and they are seriously crazy to walk on, especially in heels.  But good idea I guess???

Finally, if you want to buy stuff online here you had best get a local credit card.  We got HSBC international cards thinking that would take care of us.  But as I tried to buy One Republic tickets online today and could not because I didn’t have a correct form of payment, I was reminded that nothing in China is going to be easy or make sense at times.  Where there is a will there is a way and I will keep trying to find tickets but it ain’t going to be easy for sure. 

I have a feeling that every day I will be surprised and appreciative of crazy stuff like umbrella etiquette.   What’s next???

Many things strike me when I think about all the parks we have wandered through this week.  First, they’re everywhere yet we were the only “western” people in the parks and people did look at us weird, probably thinking, “What the hell??”  Thom and I love to walk the streets and absorb the culture wherever we go-Barcelona, NYC, Seattle, etc.  You see the locals enjoying their regular lives this way.  It is intimidating to go into an area knowing you will stand out but more travelers should take the plunge.  I’m so glad that Thom and I both share this love of wandering around and getting lost in the culture wherever we go-it’s so fun!

I saw so many cool activities going on in the parks–men playing cards, particularly older folks working out with tai chai, using the provided outdoor manual fitness equipment or just strolling along.  Even when just walking though there is a certain step cadence and their hands making motions in a pattern that must have significance.  It’s all so organic and spiritual as well as healthy.   If  US citizens would embrace outdoor exercise as much as their China counterparts, you have to think the obesity levels would dramatically decrease.  You rarely see any citizens here that are overweight.  Hmmmm…..must be all that exercise in the parks.

Spontaneous music appears in the parks as you walk the interior lanes.  We happened upon one man playing a string instrument, another guy in a stone hut serenading the passersby with his flute and a crowd watching a singer belt out beautiful haunting ballads–people sharing their passion and talent-not for money like the panhandlers in Seattle you see on the streets but just for the sheer enjoyment of the music.  How refreshing!

I am so impressed with the maintenance of the public areas.  You never see a piece of trash anywhere and the shrubs/gardens//flowers are kept in perfect repair.  It’s nice to see everyone out enjoying the parks.  I just wish more foreigners (well, really any foreigners) would enjoy all this beauty that’s free and so easily accessible.   In the meantime, Thom and I will continue to have fun exploring on foot all the cool corners of Shanghai!