Barrio Chino (Chintatown, Buenos Aires)

The entrance to Barrio Chino

Guardian of the Gate

                                                                     

The tourist shops sold things that were no different than any other Chinatown I have visited. Which was disappointing.

Herb shop; a staple in Chinatowns.

Bulk, cooked tofu. It was good.

Barrio Chino (or Chinatown) in Bueno Aires might just be the smallest Chinatown in the world! Spanning just a few small blocks with only a handful of shops (mostly touristy tchotchkes), Barrio Chino was just four subway stops and then six blocks walking from where we were staying in Palermo. There was no way I could miss going to Chinatown. (you can read the story of my life and Chinatowns here: http://twosmallgems.blogspot.com/2013/05/chinatown-nyc.html)

So early on the morning of our last day, I dragged Don and the girls out the door and on our way we went. It was hot, Havana didn't want to walk, but we made it. Since Barrio Chino is so small we didn't stay too long. Just long enough to get a feel for it; for Havana to pick out a fan for herself and Amara to pick a knickknack for herself. Amara and I also picked up some tofu in a small shop. It as a bit tricky ordering it in Spanish bu we managed. Ms Observant Amara thought it was interesting that "they speak Spanish in Chinatown" until I explained to her why. It wasn't until afterwards that I realized in the Chinatowns in NYC or SF it's usually Mandarin or Cantonese we hear, not the language of the culture at large. Something to think about.

Barrior Chino may have been small in geographic but it was nice to visit .