After my trip to NYC, I learned that almost every big city has a Chinatown, but the Chinatown, and Little Italy for that matter, in New York City was my first experience! I really didn't know what to expect!
I remember walking to Little Italy and Chinatown from Battery Park (in lower Manhattan), and all of the sudden, there we were, in Chinatown. I knew this not by the street signs (because there probably weren't any), but I knew this because of street(s) lined with vendors, the smell of Chinese food, the music, and the sights of the hustle and bustle of Chinese folks. What really overwhelmed me was that the streets were cram-packed with merchadise, and probably a lot of haggling. I tend to get a bit claustrophobic when I get in large groups of people in small spaces, but I was up for the challenge. My family and I walked up just one street and spent about an hour doing so. There was THAT much stuff to look at!! I ended up with a lasting impression, and a nice Chinese lantern.
Little Italy was a few streets over, as I remember. Walking down this street, it was like someone flipped a switch. Little Italy was still crowded but there wasn't so much merchandise on the sidewalks, but more Italian restaurants. Luckily we had all worked up an appetite after Chinatown, so we decided on a cute little place, complete with Italian music and the best Italian food I have ever eaten!! 
