Forty Winks Friday, Carting slumbers

I have already done a post on the hard working tricycle people napping in Shanghai but they are the most deserving of nappers and the most prolific.  I am in the midst of the mayhem of yet another move and am overwhelmed with all that needs to be ticked off the seemingly never ending 'to do' list and with Christmas and New Year in the mix I could really use the services of these guys.

I would wake these two up and send them off to the nearest charity shop

with a stack of clothes the girls have grown out of... 

His nap would end when I send him on an errand to the tip with the 

Christmas tree that I have pulled down early, much to the dismay of my family.

I would wake him to ferry the girls to various farewell parties, 

thus freeing me to sort the house instead of being an unpaid taxi driver.

Wonder if these two would be interested in taking our furniture to our new house.

I bet their quote would be less than the removal companies too.

This man could drop the dog at the kennel for the duration of the move.

This guy can take a heap of books to the local library!

and this guy.... I would wake him up, kick him off, take his place in 

his comfy looking spot...and take a well earned rest myself!

Forty Winks Friday, the nappers in my neighborhood

I loved our old neighbourhood in Shanghai and living in a building with only a few 'foreigners' only enhanced our experience. There was so much going on with plenty of parks nearby, huge shopping malls and so many restaurants from street foods to high end. Lots of nappers to be found too. 

This man found the couch in our building foyer a great place to nap, not

sure if he was trying to camouflage himself with his matching top. 

The front gate was a perfect spot to park up and have a nap after a busy morning.

The building site across the road was as good a place as any to grab a quick

nap before heading to the office.

The sunny spot in front of the school was a popular place to rest up.

The lovely Xujiahui Park, an oasis in the city. A place to exercise, feed the ducks, enjoy the

gardens or just nap.

The large Grand Gateway mall, six levels full of , boutiques, international shops  

many restaurants, a huge cinema, a supermarket

and many benches to nap inside....

....and outside. 

So much to do and see, so many places to nap.

Xujiahui, my old neighbourhood.

Forty Winks Friday, The Upholstery Market

I love the markets of Shanghai, there is a huge market for just about anything you can imagine. Clothes, furniture, fish, flowers, you just have to know where to find them. I discovered the upholstery market not long after I arrived in Shanghai when I was looking for some quilting supplies. I got a friend to write the address in Chinese, jumped in a taxi and off I went. Once I arrived I walked around in a daze for a while as it is huge and was a little overwhelming.

If you can wake the sellers there are so many fabrics to choose from.

Perfect place for a nap, so much bedding to lean on.

You can have any size sheets, pillowcases

or quilt covers made here, while you wait.

Plenty of pre made bedding on offer too. 

The market not only sells bedding but curtains, uniforms, cushions and furniture.

Spread out over multiple huge buildings each with 4 or 5 floors you needed to

stop for a break occasionally, if you can find a seat.

Other shoppers and workers, take time out for a quick nap.

Every time I went, which was often, I found a new section selling different things, 

gift ware, party goods, traditional decorations...so much stuff!

I was always guaranteed to find a napper or two at the Upholstery Market!

Qing Feng Upholstery Market

1618 Cao An Highway

Shanghai

曹安路1618号轻纺市场

Forty Winks Friday, Expo 2010

Today, as Shanghai wakes to another day with yet another blanket of  smog over the city, my Shanghai friends are posting photos of the the murky skies and hazardous Air Quality Index screenshots. I thought I would hark back to the glory days of World Expo 2010, when the city was cleaned and painted, factories closed down for the six month event. The slogan, Better City-Better life! The air was crystal clear, the skies a vibrant blue, the grey blanket was gone for the duration.

The little cars that whizzed around the 5.28 square kilometre site were a very comfortable place for staff to 

grab a quick nap between jobs.

More than 1.7 million volunteers worked tirelessly at the Expo, 

so deserved a little nap from time to time.

Over 73 Million people visited Expo, the crowds were huge, the queues were long,

the sun was hot so the benches in the shade were popular napping zones.

Six new subway lines opened in the two years before the start of Expo, making transport to the 

site easy and cheap. Many people, who would never get the opportunity to travel to far flung places, 

got to have a taste of many countries in one day...tiring stuff.

There were also many performances, street parades, international food stalls and gardens to look at!

With pavilions of 246 different countries and international organisations to see, many took the 

opportunity to recharge before having their Expo passport stamped with a 'visit' to another country.

Maybe they were waiting for their 'queue holder' to let them know they were close to entering

a popular pavilion. University students made money by holding spots in the long queues

for people, saving them from standing for hours in the sun. 

There were a few grassy areas to relax on too.

I went to Expo a few times myself and it was exhausting, fun...and at least the air was clear and clean!

Christmas Magic, German Christmas Market...Wiesbaden

I love a good market and I love all the traditions of Christmas so what a perfect match I have found in the German Christmas Market. We spent the weekend in Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt and had a fabulous time soaking up the atmosphere of the "Twinkling Star Christmas Market".

The market features the golden lilies that are on the Wiesbaden City Crest. Legend has it that 

King Chlodwig 1, descended from the oldest known royal line of Franken, the Meroewinger, 

was presented with a lily by an angel. From this time on the kings used this flower as a symbol in their crests.

The lilies stand tall and bright over the many stalls, selling everything from hand crafted

Christmas decorations, jewellery, leather goods and much, much more.

Of course there are many bars selling mulled wine and hot chocolate

to keep you warm. I just loved this giant Christmas decoration bar!

The Wiesbaden mulled wine mug has a different motive each year. This year the mug shows the 

Museum of Wiesbaden. You keep the mug your mulled wine is served in or you can return

it for a €2 refund. I may have acquired a small collection!

With over 130 stalls, of beautiful gift ware it's the perfect place for one stop Christmas shopping, 

with the most magical Christmas atmosphere.

Who can resist a special German Christmas decoration..or two...or maybe three...

I had to return for a second day, to revel in the atmosphere once more, the picturesque Market Square

with the Market Church providing such a stunning backdrop, the twinkling lights adding to the magic.

There is something for everyone, stalls to browse, music and choral singing, a children's railway 

and two story Christmas carousels, a large choice of delicious food on offer and 

of course the 25 meter high Christmas tree with life size wooden nativity scene.

Sometimes it's the impromptu things that are the best. This group of students from the Ukraine

were taking photos under the Christmas Tree when they all  started singing a Christmas Carol.

They were spine tingingly good and a large crowd formed around them. 

A magical Christmas moment for all.

The Twinkling Star Christmas Market in Wiesbaden is open from 26 November

to 23 December. Such a wonderful, festive atmosphere, 

I got most of my Christmas shopping done!  In the words of a friend...

No one does Christmas like the Germans!

Forty Winks Friday, Perilously perching.

I can understand the napping on tricycle trays, stretching out on park benches even balancing on scooters but it never ceases to amaze me how some Nappers can get their 40 Winks, balancing in the most precarious positions on whatever is handy at the time.

Have a small kids stool and a few rolls of fabric to lean on,

he actually looks quite comfy!

Rickety stool and a door jam, perfect for a quick nap.

Lump of wood...it's all you need.

A sack of food is comfort enough.

This lady makes a concrete step and wall look cosy.

A footpath and a chair is perfect for this guy.

Have empty paint pot...can nap!

Nothing like the sun on your back to make you drowsy.

Who says you have to lie down on a park bench for a quick nap?