{la vida loca} Rule number one of a well seasoned expat and traveler - Regla número uno de cualquier viajero o expat que se diga experto

This morning I had one of those bizarre moments when a total random thought hit me: - I must check my passport validity. Now. Ahorita. Thank God I did. Apparently, I forgot I had to renew my passport so here I am on the very last day heading to a forced trip to Hong Kong to fulfill rule number one of being a good expat and a seasoned traveler:

{our weekend} fun weekend at the Grand Prix, Food fest and Beaujolais Nouveau

Hello amigos and welcome again. How are you?. I´m slowly trying to catch up on work, projects and house chores after a couple of days my husband and I took to unwind. During those days we just enjoyed what is one of Macau´s busiest weekends of the year.

Macau´s Grand Prix, Food Festival, Fringe Festival and even the Beaujolais Nouveau are held during the same weekend. These festivities assures the affluence not just of tourist but GP and food lovers (not that this city is in need to bring more money or tourists to town...).

{Macau walks} vol 3: landmarks

Few weeks ago I received a visitor from Shanghai, we agreed on sightseeing and lunch. After picking her up at the hotel lobby where she was staying, we took bus 33 from Taipa to Largo do Senado (Senado Square) which is somehow the heart of this small but enchanting city.

On this occasion we did what I like to call Macau´s landmarks: Old and New tour. The basics. We walked by the lovely Senado Square with its portuguese colonial buildings, the  tiny market,  traditional chinese medicine  shops and litte cafés towards St. Paul´s ruins which is THE landmark of the city, afterwards we did a quick visit to the Fort-Museum to later continue our walk around downtown passing by old rotten and forgotten architectural beauties, tiny temples and majestic churches.

{carnet de voyage} Paris: l´agent provocateur - {cuaderno de viaje} Paris: el agente provocador

Clichés aside this city provoques the creative juices to flow. Be its breathtaking museums, its pleasant gardens, its cobblestone streets with its romantic façades or its people. Everything or everyone is or acts like a personal statement of art.

{Eating out} Vienna cafe or a Central European experience in Shanghai - {Eating out} Vienna café ó una experiencia Centro Europea en Shanghai

On the pleasant Shaoxing road you will find platanes trees lines,  shikumen  neighborhoods, art-deco french villas, both remnants of the city´s Splendor Age; and a  small but well seasoned Central European style café. Serving Austrian and German fare and baked goods, Vienna Cafe is not just a haven of quietness in this bustling city but a boarding pass to another era and continent. 

If you happen to be around that neighborhood for lunch or coffee time, I strongly suggest you to make a stop for some nice refreshments in a unique atmosphere.

Oh and those cakes!. I could seriously eat them all in just one seat. 

Vienna Cafe

25 Shaoxing Road near Ruijin Road

Ex French Concession

Shanghai, PRC.

Open daily from 8 am to 8pm

Thursday´s are night movie screening evenings!. From your Oscar fav movie to some really hard to find indie films. :)

If the idea of European comfort food isn´t what you´re looking during your Shanghai stay;  then maybe these suggestions might help:

{eating out} Shanghai

Dajing Lu market

Franck

Misato

Pasha

Song Fang (maison de thé)

Also on Shaoxing Road:

- Old China Hand Reading Room another ticket to glorious Sh past, this time to enjoy a nice cup of cha and a good book. 

- Shaoxing park , the smallest park in the city (or at least that´s what people say) perfect spot for your people watch sport; which will include tai chi practitioners and cards playing grandpas. 

En Español

En la agradable calle de Shaoxing road, con sus árboles de platanes que la custodian,  shikumen  y villas francesas art-deco; ambos  remanentes del esplendor de una era pasada; entre ellas reside un pequeño pero bien ambientado café estilo Centro Europeo.  Ofreciendo platillos y pastelería  Austriaca,  el Vienna Cafe no sólo es un escondite alejado del constante trajeteo de la ciudad, sino tambien un pase de abordaje a otra época y a otro continente.

Si se encuentran por ese barrio en una tarde cualquiera, éste es el lugar idea para disfrutar de un plácido almuerzo o una rica tarde de café y torta Sacher (entre otras delicias). Ya sea acompañada por un buen libro o una gran amiga.

Porque oh, esas tortas! (pasteles).  En verdad que yo podría comerlos todos en una sentada.

Vienna Cafe
25 Shaoxing Road cerca de  Ruijin Road
Ex French Concession
Shanghai, PRC.
Abierto diariamente de 8 am a 8pm
Los Jueves son noches de película. Sí, de proyección de títulos internacionales, desde el último hit de Hollywood hasta ese docu todo indie. :)

Si la idea de comida centro-europea durante tu estancia en Shanghai no te seduce, tal vez éstas otras recomendaciones si:

{eating out}

Dajing lu (mercado)

Franck 

Misato

Pasha

Song Fang (maison de thé)

también en la hermosa calle de  Shaoxing:
- Old China Hand Reading Room otro viajecito al pasado glorioso de la ciudad, ésta vez para disfrutar un tecito al puro Old Shanghai decor.
- El Parque de Shaoxing, cuentan los que saben que éste es el parque más pequeño de la Perla del Oriente, el lugar ideal para practicar el deporte de los mirones y disfrutar el espectáculo de los taichichuaneros o de los abuelitos clavados en el juego de naipes. (Siempre lo digo, los parques en China son un must a visitar).