Last week before school starts

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Okay we've been pretty bad about updating this thing thus far but then there is nothing you can do about it so quit your belly-aching.

We really wanted to find an apartment in the city before school started so Michelle and I did what we always do... we put our nose to the grindstone and took the first place we looked at (it was waaaaay too hot to be wandering around looking at apartments). We really are happy with what we got though, it's 1250 square meters, two bedrooms, has hardwood floors, balcony and all the amenities of home (no dishwasher or dryer). We are paying $715cdn/month. We are going to talk to an Ayi (maid) today about coming 3 days a week to clean up, and do the laundry (Michelle has become quite lazy), this will cost us ~$40/month (more than offsetting the no dishwasher or dryer thing).

We are in "Gubei" which is apparently a very happening spot in Shanghai it certainly has all of the niceties that we will want for some time. There are two grocery stores within easy walking distance, the Trust Mart, a mid priced place out of Taiwan and City Mart a ridiculously expensive Yank place (I think Yank). It works out very nicely, we can go one direction and buy staples for about 1/6 the price of in Canada (but not any brands that we'd recognize) or walk the other way and pay nearly $10cdn for a box of Special K (if we feel so inclined). There must be 50 restaurants within 3 blocks of us, so far we've noticed Szechwan, Shanghaiese, Italian, German, American, Korean, Thai, Indian and Iranian places. Tonight we are off to a Japanese restaurant a block away that is all you can eat and drink for $15cdn.

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Photos

apartment hunting
This is the view from the first apartment we looked at.

Local pub
Expat pub, pricey, but fun music.

Downtown at night
We had a fantastic view of Pudong at night, really incredible but the pics didn't turn out so here's some side street 'till we can try again.

Our Place 1
This is the first pic of our place.

Our Place 2
This is the second pic of our place.

Our Place 3
This is the... wait for it, third pic of our place.

Our Place 4
This is the fourth pic of our place. I didn't take it.

Comments

[brigitte]

looks very nice, I like the view!!! What's with the new friends in your picture???? Are we not good enough??? Just joking it looks like you guys are enjoying yourselves!!! Do you miss Cordelia and I???

[Vicki]

WOW!
Congratulations on your new digs! It looks great! Did you have to buy the furniture, or did it come furnished?? And, I must say.... miad sevice.... very nice! Can't wait to see it in person! xoxox Vic