Excess Luggage

Each time we, or more accurately, Mark returns to Shanghai from the US, he always has the maximum amount of bags allowed and weighed to the limit. Here is why.

 US$6.25 for the small brick of cheese. Not that he brings cheese home but you get the idea of the import product pricing.

 US$14.00 for Granola. We really like Granola but......

 US$9.60 for the Pancake mix.

 US$12.80 for Special K. This one I might have to end up buying some day if my stash gets depleted.

 US$14.75 for the Honey Nut Cheerios - WOW, that one is shocking, even to me.

US$19.55 for these nuts, the Select variety but a small can. We love nuts but I am not sure I can ever bring myself to buy those.
Thank goodness Mark has been able to go back to the states from time to time and we did stock up during summer break.

A peek into a day at the store. Some wonderful items are available here but on an inconsistent basis. Some days you can find it and then maybe in several weeks it will be there again - - or not. It's a gamble; we don't ever get our hearts set on making any particular meal, ingredients are just not reliable enough.

Merry Christmas

There are some signs of Christmas here and I have to say, they are different.
These first pictures are from Metro. The Metro is the Chinese version of Costco but not really even close. I shop there, I like it, and best of all, they play Christmas music.

I have noticed something about the decorating, it looks like the tinsel and ornaments are thrown on. It is really bad but I really do appreciate seeing it. I just have to smile.

This next tree is my favorite. I think I like it best because it was the first tree I saw this month. This picture is taken at the market below the Science and Technology Museum here in Shanghai. This is the underground market where you bargain with the vendors for such items as electronics, bags, scarfs, watches and shoes. It's fun to a certain point and then it's just really annoying and you have to leave. The vendors all yell at you as you walk by as they try to get you in their store. Really aggressive.

Very minimal.


I have to point out one more thing about Christmas here in China. Somehow Valentines Day has crossed over into Christmas here. At IKEA, they have red heart ornaments for the tree and wrapping paper with hearts, all for Christmas, right now.

Here is a card I saw at Metro which reads "Merry Christmas".

See the small Santa holding up the hearts? Not sure how this happened, but I have seen many instances. Merry Christmas everyone!