poking around shanghai

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i was not going to do this because its been a very slow quiet day but still momentous and thats what happens when you know your way around a bit and keep poking.

i heard the band playing in the old town before i saw them and because i waited, smiled, and spoke to them all - then took polaroids, i got a special ring side seat and they got another player and another crazy instrument and performed extra pieces in harmony. so they played on the pavement and i sat in an old chair placed (by them) opposite them sitting in the road with a slowly gathering crowd behind me.
just special.

and here also is inside number 93 Sichuan Road and its on the corner of Guangdong Road. Ive seen it many times but this time it was open and before I was thrown out, i just caught the inside of it in my camera. Its beautiful - all mosaics and tiles and gold and paintings with every window in colourful stained glass. Its a bank now but it once was called the Golden Cage and was the home of the captive concubines of a colourful entrepreneur - someone i can not find out about.

And here are also some of the bricks in the only remaining part of the city wall - its only about 5 mtrs long now but was miles around the old town with those scarey hostile castle things on top. It was built in 1553 but pulled down in 1912 and it has become Ren Min Road which circles the old town. You can see some of the brick makers stamps and kiln marks from nearly 500 years ago. Its protected inside the Dajing Pavilion which also has many old photos of the old city and the wall.

Everywhere there are details to look at - I hope I see the same in London.

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Photos

The Golden Cage
93 Guangdong Road. now a bank once for love