Hotel Patel, if you can stand it, you can stay.
Now with two locations to serve you better, Toronto and Shanghai.
My friend Marilyn and her husband Tim decided to take the plunge. They knew our motto, having already lodged at Hotel Patel, Toronto and were ready to stay anyway. Marilyn and Tim earned reward points and the distinction of being our first frequent stay guests. They arrived September 18th and stayed until the 27th. Rack up those points, people!
This post chronicles their numerous adventures, all the while luxuriating in the lush atmosphere that is Hotel Patel, Shanghai.
Of course, our first stop was the Fabric Mart to have them measured for suits and shirts and dresses. OK, no dresses for Tim.
Shanghaiese Egg McLi cooking on a local vendors cart outside the Mart.
The next day, it was Fuxing Park, a personal favourite. This particular date, there was a song and dance performance. Knowing Mandarin would have definitely helped, but I think it was some sort of display of civic pride.
Spot anybody you know in the background?
Let me get closer...
Yes! Our old friends, Marx and Engels.
The costumes were something else.
Yay, China!
Next, time for a little exercise, local-style.
Marilyn bravely went first.
After Marilyn showed us how it was done, I was my turn.
This is how we do it (to the song by Montell Jordan).
Isn't it fun when you have a sound track to your life?
Here it is if you suddenly have a hankering to hear it. I know I do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVi8bJFIac8
Then Tim gamely gave it a shot.
Then we were really schooled.
Unknown to us, we had indulged in some of the below activities,
so it was time to leave.
Not really, but I wanted to use the sign.
Where to next?
Where to next?
We walked and walked and walked.
Here's stuff we saw along the way.
A "green" car
You get it? Huh, huh, you get it?
I didn't make that up, blame the artist for the terrible visual pun.
Some new friends
The only remaining section of the old city wall.
A temple that was also spared the wrecker's ball.
Marilyn watching someone being arrested for selling fake DVDs. I actually used discretion here and didn't get too close, although there were people filming. News broadcasters? Hmmmm....
That evening we took the ferry over to the Bund.
I never tire of this view.
A ferry man enjoying himself.
Tim works for BC Ferries.
I guess you can never leave your work at home.
At the Signal Tower
Awww! So cute!
Onto another day.
After Yu Gardens Commodity Market, we went to McDonald's to sample the local cuisine. Hey! Don't judge! Every Mickey D's is different! The unusual part was that Marilyn found the chicken sandwich hot and I didn't. Finally! Someone "whiter" than me! I hope my kids are reading this.
Yeah, a little warm!
Another day
Today's lunch was at an amazing authentic
Chinese restaurant called Din Tai Fung.
This was dericious.
What to eat, what to eat.
These little babies!
A mural of celebrities
Don't ask me who they are.
When they say steamed dumplings, they mean it!
Marilyn and Tim left the next day having survived been thoroughly pampered at Hotel Patel. Truth be told, I was the one who felt spoiled. They were incredible guests. They can come back anytime.
3 comments:
Thank-you Elizabeth (and Rakesh)for being such good hosts! We had a fantastic time at Hotel Patel Shanghai and we'll (or at least I'll) likely be back in order to retain the frequent stay status!
Thank-you Elizabeth (and Rakesh) for being such good hosts! We had a fantastic time in Shanghai and we'll work on making sure we retain our title as "frequent stay guests"!
Ditto on Marilyn's comments. The hosts were great, food was fabulous, and having a Starbucks across the street was a real bonus!
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