Monday, rain promised, and some delivered but not much.

Escalators and large air-conditioned shopping centers on the plan.

Yesterday the streets were empty, weekend traffic. Today, like a normal city with lots of people on the streets and overpasses. The overpasses are the way to get around; there are many, covered, and pretty well linked.

Typical overpass.

The escalators were started in 1993 and head up one of the many peaks. Three main ones, each at a different street level, and then a series of smaller ones, 20, yes 20 of them, each their own levels. We rode them all.

First, to get there we tried a tram. Not modern to say the least. Price right at about $.15. Elder price, but normal price is only double elder price. Surface ride, more interesting but not with a/c like the MTR subway.

Tram ride above.

At one level we stopped at an open Starbucks. All of the other Starbucks have been boarded up due to the protests. The protesters have smashed and burned. According to the US press this is because the franchise owner is pro Bejing. I was able to ask an employee (snuck the question in while others were drinking) and she said that this one spared due to location. High up on the escalators implying hard to reach. O

Construction on the first level and one of the 20.

After walking down the 23+ levels cooling off was required and a shopping mall was just the thing. Landmark, one of the big ones, with a Starbucks reserve. Stores are safer inside big shopping malls. Dinner tonight will be in another large shopping mall.

In general we would not know that there have been protests here except when we check with the Concierge who advises maybe not go to that area this time. Has not been accurate. In Paris the subway stations were closed, and whole sections of Paris unavailable to tourists. So far, not so here.

Dinner at Dim Sum Library – decent food in Pacific shopping center. Usual dishes but well prepared.

On the way back from eating our first encounter with the protesters but this time an assembly. Went to take some pictures but George’s paranoia stopped me – got just one in and not a very good example. Most of the participants are young, wearing black and many/most black face masks and all quite peaceful. They were walking towards the assembly point at Central station and we were heading in the opposite direction. As a guess a thousand or so, but just a guess.

Side street, pic by QB.

Lights in HK

More traditional harbor view.