twice into town - Metro and Apartment looking

Early in the afternoon, Mat, the big three, and I went to the Metro to do some serious grocery shopping.  I was first struck by the intersection being constructed just beyond the parking lot to the Metro.  Metro is a German store much like Costco or Sams Club and is also where Stephen and Jen have shopped in Panama

This one though is in China, and has a stuff like you would expect in one of those ware house retail stores and lots of lots of people.

The kids of course have a blast.  We had two shopping carts - Matt sent me to find some stuff and I found him and the gang by sound first, sight second.

This is the road that is under construction near the Metro,  imagine putting a second level (or more) over Glenwood Avenue in front of Crabtree,  or I-40 business through Greensboro.

Not that it is needed or anything.   And public transportation is good too.  I counted seven busses in sight going our direction at just one stop light.  There is also a subway system.

Later in the day I was back in town this time with the adults, Matt and Laura as they are considering moving to a new location.  This building - or another one -- goodness they look alike, tall, in gated complexes, with highly landscaped yards, and next to each other, close to major roads is where they will live.   There!   I just described where they and several million other people live.  The "tall, close to major roads and some degree of effort at stylized landscape" would describe most city housing here and more people live here than do in North Carolina

I have often said China is a land of contrast, here we are walking toward a shopping center near the above apartment complex and took a shortcut through a construction site, ( what ? someone said lookout ? be careful !   no people obviously needed a path, and someone else obviously saw a chance to grow a few vegetables, and the construction never seems to stop (not background of this and following photo)

Just past the foot path though the "garden", we came out under the highway toward a row of rather grand shopping centers, think Southpoint Mall, or Crabtree  or something very nice with US and European and high end Chinese retail.

Patt and I took the kids to play in a play area and to eat in one of these places last year and I wrote about it.  The bridge above is of course a highway.  Note the bicycles and bicycle cart going under the bridge.

the Chinese highway engineers do not seem to be afraid of using asphalt.  Now pedestrians seem to be given very little consideration, especially considering how many there are of them--- let 'em walk -- walking is good - so walk far -- seems to be the philosophy.

The photo next photo after this one is taken from the shopping center looking back towards where I am standing as I took this one but looking a little to my right -

  at the right side of the  photo below under the lighted bridge is where I was standing when I took the above photo.   The major road with the lighted "A" shaped bridge is the main north south road through town.

We had a nice dinner at a Japanese chain restaurant in the mall.  The kids were back home with three baby sitters.