Mike, Elliot and I took a quick tour of Olvera Street yesterday.Olvera Street has a “fake authentic” feel like New Orleans Square in Disneyland. It should be a setting for a ride.
The two rows of stands and little shops selling “handcrafted” Mexican ware and wear were crowded with customers. Stamped leather purses, bright colored woven blankets, wooden toy guitars, maracas, and similar typical Mexican products were in practically every shop. You would think it’s a place for tourists, yet most of the customers there looked like they were Mexicans. We actually felt out of place as tourists.
Of course there was the food. Several stands and sit-down restaurants filled the streets with the smell of grease and spice of Mexican food that I love. It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and would you believe, every one of those places were packed! Why are people eating at that odd hour? Do they eat dinner again at 6pm?
We were there at Olvera Street because Elliot had to write a paper on it with first hand experience. The last time we were there was about 5 years ago when I took the children there during summer vacation. Having lived in Los Angeles for over 25 years, Mike says he had never been there before! My 6th grade field trip was Olvera Street. I wonder if schools still do that.
There is a lot of history there. It is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles. The oldest house in Los Angeles is still standing there on Olvera Street.
Though we had to rush to get Elliot back to USC, it was definitely worth the time.
This picture reminds me of Pirates of the Carribean at Disneyland.
