Welcome to Victoria's Chinatown...the oldest one in Canada and second oldest to San Francisco in North America...
I have been venturing into Chinatown since I was a young girl and I still find it fascinating.
Walking by this building, you can quite often hear the clatter of the Mah Jong tiles through the open windows above...
Many of the addresses are like this one, '23 1/2'...
When I was a letter carrier for Canada Post, Chinatown was your worst nightmare for trying to sort mail.
Many storefronts are getting ready for Chinese New Year...this year is the Year of the Ox...MY YEAR!
This alley is so narrow at most points you can stretch your arms out and touch the buildings on both sides...
It used to be full of opium dens, gambling rooms and a menagerie of sordid behaviour. My mom said when she was a girl, they were not allowed anywhere near here.Too dangerous! Now it houses record shops, clothing and gift shops...
...and the barber shop which has been there forever.
The local tattoo parlor...
Century old doors leading up to artist lofts...
Here is the Chinese Public School built in the early 1900's and still in use today...
The red lanterns looking beautiful against the clear blue sky...
Lovely architectural details...
Then there's always the adventure of shopping in the local grocery stores....
Full of strange and interesting things...
A whole lot of benevolency going on...
Gung Hay Fat Choy!!
(Happy New Year!)
(Happy New Year!)
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