Chinatown, Little Italy and the Lower East Side

Our first driving experience into the city. We got our map and drove through the Holland Tunnel with Chinatown in the headlights. No problem…we managed to find Canal Street and followed the map to the first parking spot we found- right in the heart of Chinatown. With Chloe in tow, we walked through the crazy streets of Chinatown—tasted our first “bubble tea” (with tiny pieces of tapioca providing the “bubbles”) and checked out the strange foods in the Chinese markets.

(Jean and Gordon must have felt a bit of déjà vu—a bit like being back in China).

We wandered a few blocks into Little Italy- what is now a very tiny section of the city. Chinatown is gradually encroaching and what’s left of the old Italian neighborhood is now just a few city blocks. It was a gorgeous sunny day- perfect for alfresco dining, so we found a spot at an outdoor table, had pasta and watched the people stroll by.

The final neighborhood for our stroll was the Lower East Side. We saw the Tenement Museum (watched a short video on the history of the neighborhood) and noted that the neighborhood is undergoing rapid gentrification.

Even Gus’s Pickles was gone- which sent us on a search for “The Pickle Guys”.

Back at home, time for some wine and a look at the amazing views from Liberty Harbor..