The Prices Take Shanghai!: Pros & Cons List of Beijing Olympics and Lauren arrives to Shanghai!

Pros

Amazing architecture
Cheap food and drink! ($0.50 for water, $0.75 for beer)
Cheap taxis (usually $2-$4 per ride, no tipping)
Reasonably priced official gear ($15 polo)
All birds nest seats covered (so rain wasn't an issue for spectators) but plenty of sunshine
Clean
Efficient and rapid security at main gate
Affordable original ticket prices ($9-$100)
With a ticket to a venue one could hang out inside the Olympic Green all day
Very friendly atmosphere - Chinese and foreigners
Commonly saw and met athletes and/or their families
Easy access to Today Show!
Eager, friendly, English speaking volunteers at China Mobile and Visa info booths located everywhere
Chinese people happy to take a photo OF you and even yell at people to get out of the background of the photo
Chinese people eager to take photos WITH you (people lined up to take photos with us, we were like celebrities, but really, it's just because we're white)
FREE rolling carts at airports (not just Beijing) makes for smooth luggage transportation for the masses
Tasty bread/egg/chive breakfast for $1 near our hotel

Yummy Beijing flat bread specialty

Cons

Not enough vendors
No public shaded space
No public sitting areas
Only 1 taxi stand for entire Olympic Green
Taxi stand 1 mile from venues
Clean at any expense (citizens removed/displaced...jailed?)
No permits for protester 'area' granted by China
Far too few trash cans
Impractical/dangerous self heating meals at vendors
Ran out of everything - food, drink, and souvenirs
Scalpers asking $1100 for a $9 ticket and getting mad at our $100 counter)
China booing Japan during the woman's football match
Items purchased from Official Olympic Store not allowed in some venues as they may be thrown onto the field
No restaurants or shopping outside Olympic Green
Many food street vendors removed
Chinese people not so good at taking pictures in focus