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Catherine Gacad

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No Trip is Perfect

Considering life has been picture-perfect here in Shanghai, I finally frustrated a taxi driver so badly that he pounded his fist on the roof of the cab and cursed me in Mandarin. It wasn’t even my fault. But I wasn’t going to stick around and wait for him to strangle me, so I threw my money at him and hauled my booty outta there. Looks like I flagged him right at the peak of rush hour and when he finally turned on Nanjing Road where my hotel is located, he got caught in creepy-crawly gridlock. He screamed, then turned around and yelled at me. Yo, not my problem, dude!

I’ve come to realize that there isn’t anything I find more enjoyable when traveling than eating, drinking, and shopping. I went to the Yu Gardens this morning, another highly recommended tourist trap, and I really didn’t like it. The Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park is better manicured, more serene, and doesn’t smell like urine. So I’ve decided I’m not going to diligently follow my list of attractions, I’ll see whatever I see, but I want to spend my time walking around at my own pace, eating great food, and drinking great wine. What more can a girl ask for?

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11.28.10

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Welcome to my site, derived from an advice column I wrote while getting my MBA. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I give helpful, opinionated advice based on my own experience and from the expertise of my extensive network. For more, click here.

Categories

  • Archives
  • Blogging
  • Burning Man
  • City Guides
  • Education & Politics
  • Favorite Books
  • Finances & Retirement
  • Parenthood
  • Relationships
  • Religion
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • Travel

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