Xintiandi is a fashionable street for pedestrian in Shanghai. The brick wall in most buildings are still the original ones from the 1920 of  stone gate houses typical in Shanghai.  Architecture wise, it is simply a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

Every corner seems to be photo ready for the artistic type of black and white photography.  I rarely see this place empty, it’s always packed with tourists who arrive by the busloads — or by cruise ships.  One time we were there we met many groups of art class students sketching buildings and scenery on their assignment books. Other times we saw a group of photographers doing their weekly assignments doing close-up shots on ornated windows and lamp posts. Everything here seems to be drawn towards art. Which makes it even more interesting just to spend the afternoon strolling casually browsing alleys after alleys.  If it’s not too cold outside, it would be lovely to sit in a cafe’s patio sipping hot coffee watching the world go by. Oh…  bliss!   *which feels like light years away since I’ve done that. Farewell peaceful life…..  *

That afternoon, the two grannies, baby & husband, plus a good friend of ours from NZ went for a quick stroll.  Far from what you imagine what it would be like. It was more like one stop at Starbucks, intended to warm up our hands and feet plus a good caffeine slap — but I   ended up fussing over the baby as we already way passed her lunch time. So yes, baby was a bit restless.  Then a rush to toilet  for the ladies, then quick stop by a baby’s toy store. Back in the cold breeze again, found a nice spot for photo ops with rows of eggs in window display, went through a park with what looked like one thousand tourist buses parked along the side, then back into the car. Phew!

Nice. Been there, done that. I only wish we had more time to soak a bit more of the scenery and just be in the present. If only….