On Saturday we had the day to ourselves to explore the city some more! After a late start (sleeping in felt so good), Ellie and I were craving brunch and decided to check out Green Cow City Cafe. It was a really cute brunch spot in a courtyard behind an open-air market, with the only indication of its presence the words “Green Cow” scrawled on a wooden gate. Inside were adorable decorations, umbrellas, and flowers. It reminded me of a hip brunch spot that you would find in New York. The menu was very extensive, but I had to go for a good old bagel and some home fries with a glass of orange juice. It’s been fun getting used to Chinese cuisine, but it was also wonderful to have something comforting and familiar. Everything was delicious, and the chef brought us over a little ricotta cheesecake to try as well! He was so nice to us and told us about how he got all the recipes from his wife, who is originally from New Jersey.
After brunch, we wandered around and then decided to take the subway for the first time! We successfully purchased tickets, transferred trains, and made it to our destination—the Tianyi Market. The subways here were much cleaner than in New York.
The market was multiple stories and had everything imaginable. Ellie felt a special connection with a stuffed monkey.