Sasha's had a BBQ, however I was going to go with a Chinese friend to look at his apartment and similar ones for next year.  The apartments are at the end of the North Gate of Shanghai University - the SILC bus stops at these Apts at 7:10 am for some of the administration and faculty.  The apartments are much newer and much more expensive!  But I'll see more today - the Chinese faculty were grading Final Thesis papers yesterday - a requirement of the Degree students that I will be teaching next year.  More about that in the future, I am sure. 

Suffice it to say that the grading took all day, so by noon I was heading for Sasha's, albeit "Fashionably Late." 

 
The French Concession area - Sasha's area is nicer - I took this picture for Paul who lives in Munich and drinks Paulanger!  Yes, Glenfiddich is what the sign says to the left of Beni!

From the sound of it, I didn't miss much food at Sasha's - it was terrible they said (and I already had eaten anyway) so the 148 Yuan meal and beer wasn't much less than the 120 Yuan for two much larger glasses (but their glasses were refillable!  With COLD beer! grin).  We'll see another time.

Stephen and I headed to a friend's apt. where there was a bottle of Whiskey from Scotland - quite tasty (Stephen is from England so brought it back on his last trip home).  Nice, small one bedroom apartment and not at all what *I* was looking for but interesting to see, none the less!  RIGHT downtown Puxi (west side of the Huang Pu river).

Then, Stephen and I went up to James and Dan's place - 18th floor.  Each trip took another little subway ride for 3 renminbi (40 cents).

 

Nice balcony off one bedroom (none on the other side), great feeling (feng shui) in the apartment.  Wood floors and a great "big room" area! 

   

Still, the outsides of the buildings looked very moldy!  What do I expect with sultry, particulate filled air that is very thick today, no wonder buildings look so old after only a few years!  These are only about 4 to 5 years old.

Stephen and I headed for Da Gu road and Chinese Mexican food at Cal's Kitchen - good and expensive at about $9 for a super burrito!

We came home then to watch a movie and drink a little "Bunnahabhain" whiskey with Keith at Stephen's home!  Their three bedroom is only 4,000 yuan, however, I want to live on the subway line for easy access without taking a taxi everywhere - trying to be a little green and conservative with my money!  grinning wildly!  In addition, even the taxi takes over a half hour to get anywhere, one hour by bus, in the city of Shanghai.