Chinatown and the Historic Waterfront District

Today we thought we'd take a stroll through the Pearl District towards Chinatown and the Historic Waterfront District.  Chinatown is part of this area, but it's also a historic area of its own.  Unfortunately, many of the buildings are run down and the businesses are a bit sketchy, but it's improving.

Crab apple trees in full bloom in the Pearl District.

Pearl District.

Shane in the Pearl.

Old hotel in Chinatown; looks like it's from the 1950s.

Walled Chinese garden in Chinatown.  The street outside is lined with magnolia trees.

The entrance to the garden, called the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

A beautiful yellow camellia in the grounds outside the garden.

A peek through the wall at the interior.

Another exterior shot, we couldn't go in because we had Emmy with us.  But we are planning to come back - they have a tea room with a good selection of organic teas.

Leaving Chinatown and into the Historic Waterfront District.

Shane checking his last shot.

Emmy with her blue rubberized socks - she has a sore foot, so these were for protection.

Historic Waterfront District area - Couch Street runs from here up to the area we live in.

Another beautiful old building in the Waterfront District.

This is a huge market on every Saturday, except during the winter, down on the waterfront.

Streetcar rails in the old cobblestones in the Historic Waterfront District.

There are so many of these lovely buildings here!

Interesting design shop.

This was a huge old door, I couldn't even fit it in this shot.

Shane taking photos.

Another neat old shop leaving the Historic Waterfront District.

Entering the Downtown area, this is an old sportswear shop.