I still ‘park my car’ with R
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Have you heard of Blog-Trotting?
I had no idea it existed until my friend Cara (the founder) and MEP asked me to write about Boston for the site.
At first, I was hesitant to do so. I mean I am probably the least qualified Boston resident to write a post about the largest city in New England.
I am not a native.
Nor did I attend Harvard or MIT.
Heck, I never even experienced temperatures below 50F degrees until I moved here 3 years ago.
I have yet to attend a Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, or Patriots game (I can hear the gasps of every New Englander reading this).
And I am also utterly clueless of half the things mentioned in this commercial. In fact, I still have a tough time sifting through the thicker local accents.
(For a more complete explanation of New England-isms, see this post from Angela)
People here really do pronounce ‘car’ as cah, ‘Quincy’ as Quinzee, and ‘Worcester’ as Woostah. The usage of the “R” sound is as common as turn signals.
Nevertheless, I love Boston. I fell in love with it at the age of twelve, when I first visited this beautiful city perched along the coastline. I remember being in awe of its diverse skyline sprinkled with tall, sleek modern high rises as well as beautifully intricate, historic architecture dating back hundreds of years.
So although I may not be qualified to write in depth about Boston just yet, I am enjoying every opportunity to explore all that this city has to offer.
However, there is one part of Boston that I visit frequently, and feel quite comfortable showcasing here- Chinatown.
And with Chinese New Year this Sunday, I figured why not?
* Just please excuse my not-so-great photos. I’m 8 months pregnant, and it’s 20 degrees outside with ice everywhere. Most shots were taken from my warm, heated car.
Nestled between Downtown Crossing and the South End, Boston’s Chinatown is not your typical place. It is not touristy, and you will be hard-pressed to find any street lined in faux handbags or watches. Rather, you are more likely to see fresh produce stands along sidewalks, roasted duck and pork hanging along storefronts, or live seafood swimming in restaurant tanks.
Chinatown consists of only a dozen or so city blocks, but they are all packed full with what Asians treasure most- Food (and the occasional pirated DVD). The Asian cuisine in Chinatown is as authentic and diverse as it gets. From Vietnamese Pho‘ to traditional Dim Sum served on rolling carts, there is no shortage of variety (Emperor’s Garden is currently my favorite place for dim sum). However, if you are just looking for some regular ol’ fried rice and wonton soup, most restaurants will serve them too.
I will fully admit that the motive behind 95% of my visits to Chinatown is bakery related. There are only a handful of Chinese bakeries in Boston, and I love nearly every pastry, bun, or cake sold in them. I found Ho Yuen Bakery on Beach Street sells the most delicious buns and pastries for the lowest prices. I look forward to heading there this weekend, even though I am sure it will be crazy due to the New Year festivities.
Which leads me to some advice for anyone venturing into Boston’s Chinatown. If you can, make sure to take public transportation to get there. Parking along the few tight city blocks is nearly impossible during the day.
Although we do not reside within the city of Boston, we are fortunate enough to live near a subway stop. Boston’s public transportation, known as the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) or just the “T”, consists of an extensive bus and subway network that can get you almost anywhere in the city. In fact, the Tremont Street tunnel is the oldest subway in North America.
For us, Chinatown is only a 20-minute train ride with one transfer.
See why I go there often?
Those cheap pastries and dim sum do not help either.
So to those who celebrate Chinese New Year…
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
(kinda-sorta means- “Congratulations and be prosperous”)
Click here to read my top 13 bizarre Chinese superstitions and traditions for New Year’s.
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Thanks so much Cara and MEP for allowing me to Blog Trot here. If you haven’t had a chance to visit Blog-Trotting, head over and see where in the world a blogger is showcasing today. No passports required.
Great post, Sandy!!
When we visited San Francisco a few years ago, we spent a whole day in Chinatown. It was so much fun. I know that the SF Chinatown is very touristy, but it was still so neat. Almost like being in a different country.
Thanks for the fabulous tour. When I come up there in June for the half marathon, you’ll have to take me to Emperor’s Garden for dimsum!
Cara´s last blog ..SNoMore 2010
February 11th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
@ Cara- SF Chinatown is big! I definitely enjoyed visiting there as well while in California. I will gladly head out with you in June! The weather should be much nicer then
February 11th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
nice posting.I’m on my way over to check out blog trotting.
mike golch´s last blog ..my newest award
February 11th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
I love Boston too and I never lived there. Although, I did see a game at Fenway. That was really cool.
Hockeyman´s last blog ..ACK! A Blizzard
February 11th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Thank you so much for sharing that!! I have family up in Springfield and Worchester. Everytime I go there, my R’s magically disappear!
February 11th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
THANK YOU for finding the latest video on youtube. I updated my post! Love your walk in Chinatown.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Chinatown. Now I want to go even more.
Cecily R´s last blog ..Photo Story Friday and Hey Mom?
February 11th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Gung Hay Fat Choy to you too!!! Gotta make a point to stop at Chinatown next time we’re in Boston.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Oooh, that sounds so yummy! I need to try chinese pastries. I think I should try pastries from every country (just because I love pastries). I hope you have a fabulous new year!
February 12th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Gong Xi Fa Cai to you too!! will be celebrating Chinese New Year here, it would be a double celebration for us as my daughter’s birthday falls on the 2nd day of Chinese New year.
agnes´s last blog ..Baby Dylan’s full Moon Celebration
February 12th, 2010 at 12:56 am
Sandy, this was a great post!! Now, I am craving for Chinese food!
Alicia´s last blog ..FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK
February 12th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Enjoy your Lunar New Year and Valentine’s day! Now, I want some mooncake!
ceemee´s last blog ..Ice Cream Evening
February 12th, 2010 at 2:27 am
Happy New Year Sandy! Thanks for this guided tour through Boston’s Chinatown. I wanted to go to Antwerp’s Chinatown but the snow kept me home!
Jientje´s last blog ..Weird Things About Me
February 12th, 2010 at 3:53 am
Great tour, and Cara was right, it did make me hungry!
Happy New Year to you!
February 12th, 2010 at 8:39 am
yummmm…dim sum. The first time I ever had dim sum, I was 16 and spending a few weeks in Boston with my best friend at her aunt’s house. I thought I had discovered food heaven in Chinatown. Thanks for bringing back such a fond memory.
MommyTime´s last blog ..Snow Days
February 12th, 2010 at 9:58 am
you’re making me hungry
. i visited boston once a LONG time ago. i don’t even think we made it to chinatown. we don’t have much of a chinatown here in cleveland, but i’m happy that there is at least an asian supermarket that just opened that feeds all my cravings for asian food 
.
prasti´s last blog ..wordless wednesday::bath time buddies
February 12th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
If you ever get a chance, stop by Harvard Med and arrange a tour of the Ether room. The very first surgery using anesthesia was performed right there. They have a mini-museum. Way cool.
The Mother´s last blog ..Graverobbers R Us (but if we can’t find the right corpses…)
February 12th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Happy New Year! I’m going to make a point to visit Chinatown the next time we go to Boston.
Asianmommy´s last blog ..The Year of the Tiger 2010 Calendar from Target & Coca-Cola
February 12th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Awesome! I wish Tampa offered more culture. We do have some pretty darn good Indian cusine here, though. Yum!
That Blogtrotting site is pretty cool! I signed up. Thanks for the travel tip!
Run DMT´s last blog ..Loving Manatees
February 12th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I love Boston with every breathe of my being. I mean it! I’m so envious!
Love the pictures and post.
Blessings,
Lacy
RazorFamilyFarms.com´s last blog ..Walnut Grove & Stewart-Matheny Farm, Part Two
February 12th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Just watched the ad…Great pastries in Chinatown and Newman’s coffee at McD’s?! That just doesn’t seem fair. Tampa really does need to get with the program.
Run DMT´s last blog ..Loving Manatees
February 12th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I’ve never been to Boston. However your pictures of dim sum remind of a wonderful place in Seattle.
killlashandra´s last blog ..Say it with Roses
February 12th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
What an awesome post– I am desperate to go to Boston; my step-sister lived there for 3 years before transferring to her company’s NYC-Manhattan office. She still says it’s her favorite city in the world!
Heather´s last blog ..Ask Away
February 12th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Cheap pastries?? I’m there!
Gorgeous-looking photo that first one. I miss fall leaves like that.
I’ve been to Logan, but that’s as close as I’ve come.
xo
February 12th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Stopping by from blogtrotting! Great post! I was born in MA but only made it to Boston once when I was a kid to go to a Red Sox game at Fenway. Riding that Subway was an experience!
I still have some family out there and we always make fun of their accent and dropping their R’s…..they also like to add them where they don’t belong!
Lynn´s last blog ..It’s so cold in Wisconsin……
February 12th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I love this post! You took me back to my visits to Boston. We had the best dim sum in Chinatown. My husband was born and raised there and I just had to share your post with him. He absolutely loved the commercial! Thanks for the trip down memory lane for both of us!
Jane´s last blog ..The Harder I Work The Luckier I Get
February 12th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
That sounds like such a cool part of Boston…I’ll remember this if I ever visit someday!
Muthering Heights´s last blog ..Interrupted?
February 12th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Beautiful! I wish I could visit. We have a very nice Asian District (that’s what it is officially called) in Oklahoma City.
Undercover Princess´s last blog ..And yet people are still seen with me in public
February 13th, 2010 at 12:26 am
Little slow tonight. I only just now “got” the title.
I did not even know Boston had a Chinatown. Very cool!
Marie´s last blog ..Snow on the Ground!
February 13th, 2010 at 12:32 am
I love Boston, it’s one of my favorite cities and you did a great job here.
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
Dorothy Stahlnecker´s last blog ..Internet Dating soars: hot stares out, love-at-first-click in?
February 13th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Wow– I love your view of Boston! My brother went about 15 years ago and loved it– it began one of my places to visit. Thanks for stirring that up again
Blog trotting sounds fun!
ImBeingHeldHostage´s last blog ..All Because I chose To Do Something Frivolous…
February 13th, 2010 at 5:00 am
cool photos,
would love to visit these places when i have a chance.
Happy Valentine’s Day to U,
Happy Chinese New Year!
abundant fish, oranges, love, and happiness…
Bless U, U Cool!
jingle´s last blog ..To Love Is To Forgive
February 13th, 2010 at 10:28 am
What a great great post dear !
Stéphanie´s last blog ..Mademoiselle Bohème
February 13th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Happy New Year! This was fun, because growing up on Long Island and then working in New York, I ran into Bostonians once in a while. Their accent has r-lessness in common with mine (or what mine used to be).
Dot´s last blog ..Comment on It’s Over!!! by Momisodes
February 13th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Happy new year tomorrow! In honor, I’m going to make a chinese dish….but I have to make 1/2 with soy and 1/2 without, lol. (one kid is soy intolerant) ANyhow, GREAT post!!!!
I was in Boston once as a teen on a school field trip. It’s our goal to take a road trip there soon. I looooove me some fresh seafood (everyone else hates it, *sigh* lol) I’d LOOOVE to go to Chinatown. I loved it in San Fran and it looks a bit cleaner in Boston.
Love that commercial! I wonder why they don’t sell that blend all over. Hmmm. Maybe they do and I just don’t go there enough? I know I haven’t seen the commercial.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
i have only been to Boston once when I was 18. I would love to go back!
Cookie´s last blog ..My First Sale
February 13th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Sounds like a wonderful place. (congrats on the pregnancy, ) unfortunately, the only bostonian I have had contact with is Boston Rob on Survivor. Thanks for showing us your town.
michelle´s last blog ..
February 13th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Thanks for the tour and gorgeous photos (are you sure you took them from the car??). =>
Also, yea for public transportation! Thanks for reminding everyone how important options like that are, and how lucky Bostonians are to have such a good system.
Stacia´s last blog ..Learning to See
February 13th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Gong Hei Fat Choi!
I love our city. Those McDonalds commercials crack me up, I know most of what is in them, although the “cabinet” in RI thing threw me. Thanks for sharing your Chinatown spots. I love going there but I tend to be intimidated because I don’t know what’s good and what isn’t. There are lots of yummy Vietnamese places right in my neighborhood in Dorchester that I stick to, but know that I know where to go I’ll be more confident on my next trip in!
MBonn´s last blog ..This is why I’m hot…or ya know, not.
February 13th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Boston is totally one of those cities I definitely want to visit one day. And I could listen to Matt Damon talk in a Boston accent all day long!
Emily´s last blog ..PSF and why are you sad?
February 14th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Ooo one of my personal favorite blogtrotters – I had the great opportunity of living in Brookline for awhile and must admit that Chinatown was one of my favorite places to visit!! I just love the city of Boston. Like you, I grew to LOVE the T, hate the traffic, and love the history and the architecture as well. I look forward the next time I get to go back!!
February 15th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Great photos. I love the first one. Happy Chinese New Year!
Maria @ Conversations with Moms´s last blog ..The Medical reason is
February 17th, 2010 at 10:39 am