Knock it off

Visited some more markets.  The Hongqiao (Pearl) Market is close to Tiantan(Temple of Heaven)  so I took the bus there.  Per my map they boast a large selection of knock offs.  I wasn't interested in clothes, but I wanted a purse.  I walked around and everything is solids of all different colors, has spikes or flower vinyl.  As you walk through it's a constant stream of what are you looking for?  I've got Prada, Gucci, Coach...Finally I stop and look at the catalog of a booth that I didn't feel was as pushy as the others.  They hide the knock off purses below their booth or in their storage unit and will run back and grab the one you want.  Apparently I like last years style of Gucci and they don't have those styles so I ended up getting a cute multi pink Coach purse.  

Tons of pearls here, I probably paid through the nose for the ring I got, but if I think it's costume jewelry and know I wouldn't paid more for it in the States, I'm fine.    They did have the cleanest bathrooms here!  Big plus.  Behind it they had a big toy "city" and I got several Christmas presents out of the way for the boys.  I think I actually bargin better with less money in my wallet.  Because   I used every bill in my wallet.  

I made a return visit to Xiushui(Silk) Market, to look at their purses.  Found some interesting ones real conversation starters.   Supposedly hand made, from Hong Kong, looked like a scrapbook for different destinations.  But ridiculously expensive and wouldn't haggle at all.  I offended one lady calling her flower purse vynal.  They are trying to pass it off as polished leather.  They must think we are dumb.   But who doesn't like to walk around and get called "sexy lady".  

I really need to update my favorite tapes to CDs.  If I can find it here for cheap I'll get it.  So I started with old school Whitney Houston and Micheal Jackson.  And since they are popular they mark those up more, and have big box sets they want to sell you for even more money.  No thank you, made sure these have my favorite songs on them.   No one knows  Arrested Development was anything before a TV show!