Rain on me

Note to self. When in Shanghai, and it's raining, stay at home. It's been raining since yesterday, and this vast city of 20 million is in turmoil. Forget about getting a cab. It's virtually impossible. You could wait more than an hour. You are better off walking, similar to San Francisco, motorists can not cope with the rain and traffic just necks along. However, you will have to battle the army of designer Burberry umbrellas. I was poked in the head at least once every block. Despite the bad weather we had a GREAT first weekend in Shanghai. Yesterday we met a friend of a friend (thank you Beth V for the intro!) in Tai Kung Lu. Jon has been living in China for the last two years and is a walking talking travel guide of the city. Great to get some inside tips and strolling through Tai Kung Lu needs some guidance for sure. It's a labyrinth of back alleys and traditional Chinese houses that are now home to a plethora of bars, coffeeshops, boutiques and art galleries. A few years ago it was "undiscovered" and the heart of bohemian culture in Shanghai. However, the tourists soon flocked to this enclave, and every inch of the space is now commercialized. Don't get me wrong, it is still charming. But similar to the rest of the world, when there is a buck to be made, authenticity is sacrificed. Thumbs up to China's social market economy...