Elizabeth's aunt checks into Hotel Patel March 2, 2011

HOTEL PATEL

If you can stand it,

You can stay.

My aunt Blair checked in yesterday! Hooray! She is staying at Hotel Patel (Shanghai) for two weeks. I, of course, have a whole page of activities planned for her, but we're starting off slowly. I don't want to exhaust her right at the beginning of her trip.

Blair's first taste of life here in Shanghai was at Tang Si migrant school where I volunteer as an ESL teacher every Wednesday morning. Blair, a former teacher herself, gamely came along.

Blair outside Tang Si school

To say that she was swarmed by students is an understatement.

Blair enjoyed being back in the saddle again 

 so much, that she's returning next week.

Once a teacher, always a teacher.

After our morning at Tang Si, Blair and I switched gears completely and headed over to the Song Fang Tea House on the Puxi side. Blair got a glimpse of "real-life" Shanghai on our way over.

The second floor of the tea house, 

a converted 1930's villa in the French Concession.

Part of the antique biscuit tin collection

Close up

Blair in a cosy corner

Her tea and all the accoutrements

Ah! That first sip!

Desserts and dishes

Delicious!

How happy am I that Aunt Blair is here!

More adventures to come...