Viva La Mexico Los Angeles, California
Pelanconi House ~ The oldest surviving brick house in Los Angeles
“One day there will be no borders, no boundaries, no flags and no countries and the only passport will be the heart.” — Carlos Santana.
As it happens, there is no passport required to visit this slice of Mexico City located in the heart of Los Angeles a mere half hour drive from my home. I arrived in Downtown LA and was instantly transported across the border into a vibrant slice of Mexico.
Calle Olvera is the oldest and also the shortest street in this city that was established in 1781. Eleven families left the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel to establish a secular pueblo along the banks of the Los Angeles River. Unfortunately, they had to move three times due to the flooding of the river before they established this footprint which is considered the heart of Mexican Los Angeles complete with a sign proclaiming Los Angeles a sister city to Mexico City.
Bustling with shops selling all manner of goods, people wandered sampling tacos and other authentic Mexican food, there was a long line outside a little cafe advertising Margaritas and the Plaza featured live musicians and people dancing and enjoying the sunshine. What a fun way to spend a day in Los Angeles.
It’s also a great way to learn about the roots of this city more famously known for Hollywood.
The Avila Adobe built in 1818 by Fancisco Avila is the oldest standing residence in the city of Los Angles located in this historic paseo listed as a Los Angeles Historic cultural monument. This was one of the settlement’s first houses to share street frontage in the Pueblo de Los Angeles of Spanish colonial Alta California. While I understand some maintenance improvements have been made over time it’s impressive to walk through the fully staged house and see how people lived at that time. The tour is free and also has free rest rooms at the end of the courtyard.
The walls of the Avila Adobe are 2.5–3 feet thick and are built from sun-baked adobe bricks. The original ceilings were 15 feet high and supported by beams of cottonwood which was available along the banks of the Los Angeles River. Tar was brought from the La Brea Tar pits to be used as a part of the exterior building material and to seal the then flat roof. The flooring was hard as concrete compacted earth which was swept several times a day to keep the surface smooth and free from loose soil.
Timeless history at its best.
Commemorating this area, the first Olvera Street cross was carved by Mrs. Florence Walker in 1929 to honor the city’s 148th birthday. Over time, this was replaced by this current wooden cross carved by Mr. Jackie Hadnot which was installed on April 15th, 2017, during the Blessing of the Animals celebration.
Come shop for a pinata for your child’s birthday party. Find all manner of clothes, toys, shoes, purses and household decoration items as you browse through the shops. No different from browsing for souvenirs when you travel.
Enjoy an authentic Mexican meal at one of these restaurants that line the street. There were lines of people waiting for a table at some popular places.
This beautiful colorful patio called to me with its proximity to the central plaza and the sound of music that filled the air. Of course, with my luck I managed to find the one place that served neither margaritas nor Mexican coke. The taco was excellent, and the beer was cold though alas I don’t drink beer so had to settle for water.
I wonder if this fountain now dry, at one time provided water to the people who lived in this area. Today it serves as a wonderful focal point for the shops in the area.
Antonio Aguilar Park brings a nice touch of green to downtown Los Angeles with its colorful murals and statue dedicated to Antonio Aguilar. The gate to enter the park was locked. I’m guessing since this is the one area where I found homeless people wandering.
La Plaza United Methodist Church is an active church with beautiful stained-glass windows inside.
The Museum of Social Justice is home to diverse public programs and education initiatives that showcase the history of Los Angeles and social change from the perspective of poor, minorities and other marginalized groups. This is a beautiful mural depicting the Blessing of the animals at Easter.
El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historical Park and Monument. This area was full of people enjoying the weather. Musicians were playing and people were dancing in joy and abandon. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday in Los Angeles.
our Lady Queen of Angels Church directly across from the Plaza is the oldest catholic church in Los Angeles having been first established as a chapel in 1784.
The city of Los Angeles Street sign.
The view of Olivera Street from the corner of Alameda and Cesar Chavez silhouettes the modern downtown of Los Angeles dominating the historical heart where it all began.