Vintage and China town!

The next day I awoke to, you guessed it, rain! So pocketing a handy umbrella and scarf I walked two blocks to catch the number 9 bus to downtown.  I had more gardens to see as well as vintage shops and book stores.  

My first stop was the Chinese garden, taking up a full city block at 3rd and Everett in Chinatown.  Very different from the 5 acres of the Japanese Garden it offered ornate wood carving, buildings built to model different periods in Chinese history focusing mainly on the Ming dynasty, and replicas of unique Chinese antiquities.  Much of the garden is built around a beautiful pond full of lily pads and lotus blossoms. There is also a tea house offering a variety of teas to sample with complementing snacks and small bites.  The tea is served in a variety of ways derived from the different periods in time that tea was introduced and developed.  After selecting your tea type and serving type there was a menu from edamame to noodles and moon cakes to pecan cookies. Even through the rain it was a beautiful sight, I will admit the Japanese garden is my favorite, though the two are of no comparison. 

The entrance and ornate carvings

The 'boat' house
 

The many views of the pond. The pagoda on the right is centered over a zig-zag bridge through the middle of the pond.

up close to the pagoda

 

As in the Japanese garden the pathways change in texture. The tour continued into another building representative of a wealthy family's 'escape' for men to come and do business or relax

The Tao of Tea - house

There are two floors both with beautiful views of the garden

My view

My starting course of edamame in soy sauce and ginger as well as a smooth green tea, like Jasmine, served in the traditional way first used in the preparation and drinking of loose leaf tea. I almost bought the three pieces, but no place to store them!! (nor a kitchen to use them!)

On down the main st that separates the city north and south, Burnside st, in search of the biggest new and used bookstore around, Powell's Books. They will also buy used books, but I couldn't bear to part with any of mine.

 

Just a few pictures of 2 rooms in this elaborate palace. I was lost for hours! But luckily surfaced with only 3 books to purchase, a triumph!!

After that it was on to vintage-Magpies on 9th and then Buffalo Exchange, just across from Powell's-It was a fabulous day complete with tea, books, and rain boots what more could a girl ask for?! Perhaps a closer bus stop home, that was a nice hike up Broadway, far past where I thought it was-thank goodness for good signs and a sturdy umbrella!! :)