Chinatown~ San Francisco

I love Chinatowns. I have since I was a little girl. I seek out Chinatowns in cities when I travel and on my blog I will probably repeat this sentiment frequently. Yet, for reasons buried in my subconscious, I had not explored the Chinatown in San Francisco. I made at least one visit there about 5 years ago with Don. We had an enjoyable and entertaining time exploring the shops and places to eat. We left with a few gifts for friends, sleepy from a foot massage and full from a yummy dinner. So why have I waited so long to return? I was not so sure but on the first day of 2013 I was inspired (thanks to my friends Roger and Ed the night before) to take the family and go exploring!

What makes Chinatowns so special? The reasons are many!

There are the endless choices of eateries be it more authentic or American style Chinese. If you are vegetarian like I am, you can find some kick ass vegetarian fare. The Chinese can make soy and wheat gluten into some of the tastiest foods around.

And depending on which city you are in, you can get produce and fresh seafood to make your own meals at home.

Then there are the tchotkes. So many things to choose from. You can take home a hand waving cats that bring good luck, or little rocks with affirmations imprinted on them; there are rainbow pinwheels or you can choose from a dozen different forms of Hello Kitty. You can purchase a desk size Buddha or a life size one if you can carry it home.

There are knockoff clothing items and handbags.

There are herbs and other remedies for healing.

There are low end and high end deals; from paper lanterns to wood furniture.

There are nooks and crannies along the streets and in the stores. So much to explore and discover.

Everywhere you look, you can find a kaleidoscope of colors.

There are the crowded streets (and this person, who normally cringes in tight spaces, moves with ease through the throngs of people) that buzz with life.

And every Chinatown I have ever been to has the same distinct smell.  I inhale the scents around me and my body settles with a sense of peace.

When I move through the crowded streets and feel the presence of Chinatown I feel at home. I felt this from the very first time I stepped on Mott Street in Manhattan when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old. And when I am in Chinatowns, I often have this primal memory of walking on streets in Shanghai or Beijing. I tell myself I must be channeling family memories.My great grandfather was Chinese and made the long trip from his home in Shanghai to Cuba, with his brother in the early 1900's.

As we wandered around the streets of today's San Francisco's Chinatown I began to understand my earlier ambulances to venturing there; The city's Chinatown had a more tourist feel to it than the one in Oakland or in New York City, where the population is much larger and it feels more like home to the Chinese population. In San Francisco, I am sure many call it home but there was a strong element of tourism. I understand the need to generate income and make a living and I loved the modernism that has been incorporated into the city's Chinatown. In my experience, however the pulse of some other Chinatown's felt a little more authentic (if that is the correct word.)

Now that I have gotten a taste and feel of the layout of the Chinatown across the Bay, I suspect the girls and I will visiting there again soon. They both loved our evening out  although Havana was mostly focused on "getting a cookie!" I want them to develop a strong sense of adventure and comfortability being in unfamiliar territories be it a far away land or just a trip across the Bay.