Of Dragons and Lions – San Francisco Chinatown
Polishing Silver
Walking around a city, sometimes you run into the most unexpected things. Even in Chinatown.
In this Tier Point-laden adventure
- All I ask is for one decent airfare. Just ONE. Anyone?
- Off to Birmingham Airport
- FR669 Birmingham to Dublin Airport with Ryanair
- Welcome to Dublin, Premier Inn – Dublin Airport
- Early Morning Dublin Airport and US Preclearance, 51st and Green Lounge
- AA723 Dublin to Philadelphia – Flagship Business Class
- A Rocky Interlude – Exploring Philadelphia
- Return to PHL and the Philadelphia American Airlines Admirals Club
- AA2663 Philadelphia to San Francisco – US Domestic First
- A new terminal and The Crowne Plaza, Burlingame
- The Intercontinental San Francisco (and trying the new BART trains)
- Asian Eats around San Francisco
- A challenge unto myself: Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge
- Ferrying around the bay with Golden Gate Ferry
- Of Dragons and Lions – Celebrations in San Francisco Chinatown
- Back to SFO, American Airlines Admirals Club
- AA164 San Francisco to New York JFK – Transcontinental Business Class
- A snow-laden pit stop at JFK and the American Airlines/British Airways Greenwich Lounge
- AA104 New York JFK to London Heathrow – Flagship Business Class
- Transiting across Heathrow Terminals and the British Airways Galleries North
- BA836 London Heathrow to Dublin Airport – Club Europe
- A Two Hour Dublin Turnaround featuring the Dublin Airport Lounge
- BA4469 Dublin to London City Airport – Club Europe by BA CityFlyer
- To the trains… and on the cheap
- Points in the bag
Sometimes, I don’t know why some things are – it’s life for me. And once again, I ended up in Chinatown at night in San Francisco.
Some things never change as nighttime is when I tend to pass by this area of town – normally in need of dinner.
What did change was when I started walking past Dragon Gate and to the main section of Chinatown – where a police car was blocking car access into the area. Thankfully pedestrian access was possible.
Dragon Gate
What’s all this about?
And as I approached, a Lion and Dragon Dance was in progress – celebrating something (probably commercial).
However, there was a sound that I was familiar with started. That sound of a Chinese celebration – Firecrackers.
It’s a rare sight for me – mainly as firecrackers were banned in the UK in 1997 (spoilsports).
Here is some videos and photos. Because there’s nothing like loud firecrackers deafening you.
There were also Dragon Dancers – and they must be gamers with the amount of RGB on the Dragon’s body.
The dance went on for 10 minutes or so before they retired to a venue indoors.
Whatever they were celebrating, I wish them good fortune.
Chinatown at night, without the firecrackers, remains lit up, with some stores still open – and for those who seek to get San Francisco gifts, this is where I’d head to get your “$10 for 10 keyrings”, your magnets and all the souvenirs that means you’re not hitting the airport shops.
Or as we all know it best – tourist tat.
Because who doesn’t need a magnet, keychain or a cable car Christmas tree ornament?
There’s also the usual mixture of shops too – from jewellery to art.
AS well as some classic camera gear.
And at night, it adds a little edge to the place.
And yes, I ended up in Snow Garden for dinner. Sometimes a traditional Chinese cafe is a welcome thing.
Next
Time to start tracking back east. And maybe turn into a millennial… with avocado toast.
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