Patt and I and a few friends and neighbors

Back in the day, in traffic jams on the Belt-line or Glenwood or anywhere else in town, the kids would often remark well we have a few friends and neighbors out with us today. Well, Patt and I went into downtown today via the subway and yes a few of our nearest and dearest were along too.

got our subway ticket and heading toward line 1 and a place I could not pronounce but Patt had memorized.

boarding (allotted time measured in seconds)

seven stops and on board is fancy - electronic progress board, and even had announcements in English too

Went to a touristy part of town that was reconstructed old timey village replete with a few original old houses and old stuff and some very fancy stuff for sale - like high six figures in USDs. We are looking for the high roller tourist not the bargain basement type world traveler here.

This guy was selling tobacco, pipes and trying to look cool for the older lady set which were a high percentage of the tourist base. With a retirement age for some careers at 55 here there are a lot of what some would call the mature set who are out and about.

There are also a lot of the younger set too, who are much enamored with themselves and seemingly take an endless stream of selfies. This particular young woman we saw several times, each time she took a photo it was with the same pose, a head bent, and leg lifted, and them she moved on.  In her defense, she had no visible companion. We did however see a young woman taking a photo of herself while her companion was taking a photo of her.  Double selfie?  I tried to document that but missed.

This woman spent an incredible amount of time getting her selfie just right. Selfie watching became my joy for the day.  

Later we went to the originally named "People's Park".  Unique, think I will suggest it at a City Council Meeting.  Bet the Tea Party Councils members and supporters would be apoplectic upon hearing that suggestion. Anyway it was huge, replete with large tower commenting on industry or transportation best we could tell from base carvings.  

Lots of gardens, walks, ponds, benches, paths, little restaurants, tea houses, and so on.

There were also a type of recreational area with some ping pong tables, dance space and oh-my-goodness-gracious, karaoke!  There were probably 10-12 karaoke stations spread around not nearly far enough apart yet way too far apart if you get my drift.

Some of these would-be, want to-be, think they-are, lost-a-bet, had-too-much-to-drink-for-this-time-of-day, or just plain show offs who should know better singers/performers were actually really real bad.  I mean put them out of their misery bad. One or two would not cause you to hurry past.

We did not have a lot of friends of neighbors listening to any - repeat any - of the karaoke singers. In fact, a brief spat broke out between a boy friend / girl friend on the dance floor behind the guy karaoking in the photo above. Way more spectators for the spat - obviously regardless of language limitations.

There was also an opportunity to get really neat souvenirs, keepsakes, or wedding gifts.  If you have a wedding you are scheduled to be going to soon, let me know what's on their registery and I am sure I can get something here that will suffice.  And save you a bundle too.