Given the habit or culture of buy buy buy, it’s a bit surprise that I even find a repair shop, even let alone it’s for shoes.
A time capsule comedy club with quick repair.
Unknowingly, I asked how long have they been open. The blue coat young man replied with twinkle in his eyes, “since 10 o‘clock this morning.”
Ok he has me: four generations in the running. A gent who’s waiting for his sneakers, chided in, “and they make spaghetti on the side.”
LOL
How long does it take to change my heel caps?
“Two weeks,” blue coat said, and winked.
“Oh”, I said.
“Two hours.” He said.
“Ok, I’ll come back then.”
“A few minutes,” he said.
He inquired where we’re from. When he heard Beijing, he blurted out fang pi and shagua, which mean ‘break wind’ and ‘dumb kopf’. Chinese is easy to learn.
Cash only. Thanks to extend my beloved shoes’ life.
My last time in London was 2017, but this time in London, one word keeps coming to mind: vibrant. The streets in London are busy, lively, and jammed with people. Prosperity is an understatement.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to visit Mithraeum (Bloomberg Space): it closed for a school function. But we got to have coffee at the Walbrook Starbucks.
… some scenes
TUC Trade Union Congress @ Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3LS
Kazimierz is best known as the historic Jewish Quarter of Kraków. A vibrant district shaped by centuries of Jewish life. Today, it is famous for its historic synagogues and cemeteries, as well as its independent shops and lively cafés and bars, where heritage and contemporary culture coexist.
The name Kazimierz is also a traditional Polish male given name (the Polish form of Casimir), commonly interpreted as meaning either “famous destroyer of peace” or “preacher of peace.” It was borne by several notable historical figures, most prominently King Casimir III the Great.
Founded as an independent city in the 14th century by King Casimir the Great, Kazimierz later became one of the most important centers of Jewish religious, cultural, and intellectual life in Europe, a role it maintained until the devastation of the Second World War and the establishment of the Kraków ghetto. Today, the district blends its profound historical legacy with a dynamic modern cultural scene.
One little on going surprise is that there are so many cranes in the skies – I thought by now Miami is pretty built up and saturated = done with. But guess not.
This floating market 水上市场/漂市, or more like village, spreads out along the eastern bank of Mekong River in Long Xuyen.
Long Xuyen (龙川; formally called Thủ Đông Xuyên) is the capital of An Giang province 安江省, in the Mekong Delta region of south-western Vietnam. The backdrop is newly built or in the process of building, low rise apartment buildings.
Ships need eyes -:)
Many boats look a like, which were built with the durable mahogany woods that they paint it with tar at the end of each year. Many of them live on their boat year around. Their children go to school on land, ferry to shore by small boat. People are very friendly.
The guide lives 40 miles (65 km) from here, who showed us some boats where he purchased, we also get to visit one of the boathome.
We also visited a boat, the owner has a 12 years old daughter who’s at school. The owner treated us to juicy watermelon. Our only question is, what do we do with the seeds and rind.
“It’s organic, throw into the water.” Buffalo said.
The guide served us coconuts and pineapple on the boat. He cut off a small piece to use as spoon, to scrape off the white flesh, which is very yummy.
After the market, we continued on the Mekong, passing by a Catholic Church Giáo Xứ Mỹ Thạnh/My Thanh, (Google Maps). Mỹ Thạnh is a commune (xã) / village of Long Xuyen: population 26,100 (2019); and the culvert bridge (涵洞桥?), a little over a mile down south.
Under the rule of Khmer Rouge, Angkor Ban was chosen to be their billet. The buildings in this village were used as housing and storage. Thus, while almost infrastructures in Cambodia were destroyed, the wooden houses in this village still exist until today.
Ângkôr Ban is a commune in northwestern Cambodia. The entrance from the river leads to the village, temples and pagoda, where the monks, young and old live and study.
In Cambodia, becoming monk is rather casual endeavor: anyone can become a monk at any age, under any circumstance, and can quit after any length of time: a week and or years.
We then turn left, onto the village. Many women and girls are selling scarfs on either side of the unpaved path. The last stop was at Angkor Ban Indigo Community where a few women are weaving. Each scarf or table runner (however you want to use it) is $10. I purchased one, just to support the community: revive and preserve their traditional skill – not sure it’s worth the effort: given the fact that things can be made much quicker and easier …
Is this some kind of burial?
We visit a family: shoes off and hat off before climbing up to the second floor, which is their living quarter. The floor is made with bamboo planks, and each plank has gaps. I walked gingerly. But the house seems strong, because when I got up there, there were at least dozen of tour mates. It has a kitchen, a tv, but no bathroom.
A new library in the North of River newly developed area in Nanjing: people are waiting for the opening at 9am every day, and rush in to grab a seat or two!
… 一哄而上 crowd up (?) describes acting rashly and simultaneously without organization and preparation. 一哄而上的抢独立空间座位 a rush to grab independent seats. … in a library!
WOW Wow wow … the violinist Julian Rachlin (1974-; Vilnius, Lithuania) is a conductor and, a better performer: enthusiastic and energetic – gotta to go to his concert, and bring your glasses or binoculars. His large and intense movement and facial expression are the highlight of the evening. I’d like to know
if he does warm up
if he gets tennis elbow
Oh gosh … everyone should go to his concert!!! Unfortunately at his age, he’s not going to have any break through and becoming that hot commodity. So do go while you can.
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9
Wolfgang A. Mozart (1756-1791) Sinfonia Concertante, K.364 (320d)
a surprise piece by ??
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) Symphony No. 9, From the New World or New World Symphony
Sarah McElravy plays both violin and viola. She’s pretty, with a narrow waist but lacks virtuoso flair: holding her viola very low, I feel she looks like a cowboy performer than a soloist of classical music. Up class, the stage light is harsh on her.
The surprise piece: every now and then, they insert a small piece in the program. This time, it’s Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020). Without prompt – like no applause, she returned, followed by conductor Rachlin, to give us the surprise – a contemporary piece. Can do without it. The reason of this piece: McElravy said she and Julian Rachlin performed at Penderecki’s funeral, per his wish.
Bathroom issue: the toilet water is brown, which is unfortunately … yucky.
One of our neighbors is volunteering as the usher and he found us from the second floor – we were playing bridge on Monday mentioned this concert.
The real surprise is after the intermission: a spectacular performance by Rachlin when he conducts Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, New World Symphony while he was in US, and was premiered Carnegie Hall in New York in 1893 – a lot of Americana in it. Rachlin is on fire … I normally listen to concert and tonight, I’m on the edge of my seat, watching! What a treat, his movement is dramatic and flashy (hence my tennis elbow wonder…) thank you conductor. I sure will come for more. As soon as the last note ends, a man yelled out: BROVA and the applause is thunderous.
They allow patrons to bring their glasses to the seats … and one broke. Someone has to come in with broom to clean it up.
Our dinner at Steelbach is good too: a good prelude to the weekend.
Tampa RiverWalk is a 2.6 miles long open space pedestrian trail along the Hillsborough River, stretching from ArmatureWorks in the north to Sparkman Wharf in the south, pretty much at Lilac @ Edition.
We often dine at a restaurant in ArmatureWorks, then walk to Straz (concerts and shows), which is 0.8 miles, which is It’s serene and scenic, a good place to watch sunset.
Skateboards, bikers, strollers and dogs are part of the crowds on the trail, and taxis, tiki boats, jet skis fill the river.
A beautiful and well maintained pier in the Glória neighborhood.
It has three restaurants: Bota, Kitchen, a fusion and an Argentina Corrientes 348, but non of them are on the water. Maybe their sensibility is different from ours.
We’ve dinner at Bota at around 6pm: empty restaurant, large portion, good service. The couple of tables are all drinkers.
