Earlier this month, Jess from I’ve Bean Travelling did a photo challenge in which she shared her favorite photos of her hometown, Toronto. Inspired by this simple, yet poignant idea of showcasing one’s home city, I’ve decided to go ahead and do one of my own, Los Angeles.
I was born and raised in the “City of Angels” and, despite its overpopulation, traffic and pollution, and myriad of problems in recent years, Los Angeles remains a hot-spot for Hollywood, good beach weather year-round, and my home at heart. There’s so much diversity in history, culture, and people…probably none more than here than anywhere else in the world, and it’s important to look beneath the surface of the local’s characters and beyond the touristy parts of the Westside and Hollywood to find the “true” Angeleno: hard-working, a bit rough around the edges, but also fiercely-loyal to those close to them.
Without further ado, here are my selections:
1. “Urban Light” exhibition at LACMA.
2. Bradbury Building (filming location for Blade Runner and (500) Days of Summer).
3. The Getty Villa.
4. In N’ Out burgers.
5. Korean Bell of Friendship in San Pedro.
6. Poppies in Antelope Valley (blooming season between March and May).
7. Naples Canal in Long Beach.
8. Santa Monica Beach and Pier.
9. Best tacos in Culver City (others will disagree with me, but I don’t care).
10. City views from Griffith Observatory.
I’d like to see photos of your hometown, so feel free to share! Thanks for reading. π
— Rebecca
Oh my gosh Rebecca this makes me want to return ..Great sites to see and….those Tacos. I was in the grocery store bought these taco kits this morning. I plan on making them for dinner..LOL
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I hope you can return to LA some day! Tacos are LIFE; good thing that LA is famous for them!
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ππ
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I love your hometown, Rebecca. California is a dream destination for many and with endless sunshine, and beautiful beaches it is certainly on my radar, too. One of my favourite franchises is Fast & Furious – the story of undercover police officer Brian OβConner (played by Paul Walker) taking on Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew of hijackers – so I would be keen on tracking down the filming locations, Torreto House and Dodger Stadium including π The would love to photograph Santa Monica pier at night time and visit the California Science Museum. Thanks for sharing and have a good day. Aiva π xxx
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Sounds like you got your itinerary planned should you visit LA some day! I actually have never been to Dodger Stadium, but it would be neat to check out a baseball game there…post-COVID allowing, that is! Thanks for stopping by, and have a good day. π
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When I was in LA I really liked all the street art! There were such beautiful murals all over the place. The Korean Bell of Friendship is amazing – I wish I’d seen it. Next trip! I hope you’re doing well and the, you know, raging pandemic isn’t affecting you and yours too badly.
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I’ve yet to check out more of LA’s street art; that’s one aspect that I haven’t really explored yet! The pandemic isn’t the greatest time to be in, but I’m doing the best I can and am blessed with what I have every day. Take care of yourself, too!
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Beautiful photos especially the poppies and the Korean arch
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Thank you! There is a lot of beauty to my hometown, which I’m proud of!
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Great photos, especially the In-N-Out burgers π Thanks for the link back.
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Yes, In-N-Out burgers are an institution in southern California. Thanks for inspiring this post! π
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You are right to be proud of LA, it’s a big city where a lot is happening. There are so many places to go, thank you for showing some of them. During my stays in LA I have always felt the frustration of having trouble getting organised, the city is so fragmented, there doesn’t really seem to be a city centre, but multiple centres.
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It boggles my mind whenever I look at the map of Los Angeles; the city (let alone county) is ENORMOUS. There doesn’t appear to be a beginning or end to the place, but I guess the upside is that one could spend a lifetime exploring all that it has to offer. π
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What a lovely idea: Thank you for sharing π₯° The poppy seed field looks beautiful, I did not realize that something like that exists around L.A.
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Yes, the poppy fields are a natural beauty in LA! Perfect for visiting during the springtime, should one be in town at that time of year!
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That must be quite sweet to live around Naples Canal in Long Beach, right?!
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I don’t live that close to Long Beach, but it’s not a far drive off. Always a treat to visit in my free time!
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That’s the area filmed in Valentine’s Day, right?
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I had to look it up. Valentine’s Day wasn’t filmed at Long Beach’s canals, but rather at the canals in Venice Beach (also a beautiful location).
PS Given that Valentine’s Day is around the corner (and the fact I haven’t seen the film in YEARS), I just might have to watch it again! Thanks for giving me the idea, VΓ©ro. π
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A classic! We do mother & daughter girly nights on Fridays and watch romantic (preferably vintage!) comedies. We rewatched Valentine’s Day this autumn I think… These days we’re on Dawson Creek season 1 ( ouch, this hasn’t aged very well!!).
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Love the Poppy field! Those tacos look so good too! I can’t wait to visit California again so I can have decent Mexican food (and see my family that lives there of course).
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I hope you can revisit California some day. I actually heard that San Diego’s tacos are better than Los Angeles’, so there’s incentive to return!
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California dreamin’π I miss so much a walk on the beach (not necessarily Californian beach, as I haven’t had a chance – yet) Thank you for sharing!
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California is a beautiful state. I hope you can drop by for a visit at our numerous, gorgeous beaches!
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I love the idea behind your post and photos are glorious. LA is a must for any cinema lover, so I am quite keen on visiting the city as a tourist. Add to that vineyards, San Francisco, San Diego – California is a dream destination.
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Definitely! Although I’m far-removed from the “Hollywood aspect” of LA-living, I can understand its appeal for others, especially outsiders. I hope you can dedicate some time to visit LA, along with the rest of the California state!
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great pics! So varied! looks like it’s great to have the freedom of a car in LA
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I have a love-hate relationship with cars, especially in LA where they do offer you the freedom to go wherever and whenever, but then the traffic jams are horrible. But it is true there’s so much diversity in LA, and it’d take ages to explore all that it has to offer!
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Hey Rebecca, I just nominated you for the Outstanding Blogger Award. I have grown to love your blog and our interactions over the last couple of months. I hope that you accept this nomination and look forward to reading your answers π
https://wanderingexplorer.travel.blog/2021/01/23/outstanding-blogger-award-2021/
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Hey, thank you so much! I’ll go ahead and accept my nomination. Granted, my posts are backlogged by about two to three months, but the Outstanding Blogger Award post will be up soon! π
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Lovely, I am looking forward to it π
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Just wrote it. It’ll be published in March. π
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Can’t wait π₯°
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Lovely photos. Just love all the palm trees. Believe me, Minnesota looks nothing like that right now.
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Palm trees are everywhere in Los Angeles. I’m so used to them that I forget not everywhere else has them!
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During certain times of the year, we Midwesterners LONG to see a palm tree!
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beautiful photos! I couldn’t even guess that some of these photos are still taken in LA:)
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Thank you! LA is such a diverse city that it’s incredible just how much there is to see!
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Great photos! In this time of covid, all my photos are from our present home town π All my snow shots for sure! More on Saturday.
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Thank you! I think that COVID-19 has allowed us to step back and realize the beauty of where we live, instead of looking out to the world for beauty. It’s the simple pleasures right in front of us which make us happy, that’s for sure. Looking forward to your post on Saturday!
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Thanks, I agree. There are worlds inside us and at our feet. π
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These are beautiful photos of your home town Los Angeles. They showcase what the city has to offer underneath all the pollution, traffic, homelessness and taxes it has come to be known for. It has some diverse architecture, nature escapades and great food (though not always the most healthy, but tastes good π ).
I’ve always wanted to visit and maybe someday I will make it over there. As you said in your comment to Mari, the pandemic is probably not the best time to be there. I’ve heard people are leaving Los Angeles and California and moving elsewhere, such as Las Vegas/Nevada, North Carolina, Charlotte or really a state where the traffic isn’t as bad, taxes aren’t as high, lower crime and to be a part of a community where people are more down-to-earth. Not saying all people in California are like that but many see it as a place of opportunity to further their goals which leads to inflated egos. As and when I get to come over, I am looking forward to many walks hikes around the region π
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Thanks for commenting, Mabel! It is true that LA is home to diverse cuisine (and some are unhealthy), but at the same time, it’s a massive hub for vegan “healthy” culture, especially among the younger crowd.
You also make a good point about people leaving LA; the phenomenon’s been marked the “LA exodus.” I don’t blame people who want to leave, as it’s virtually impossible to live comfortably in the city due to soaring rent, minimum wages, and the city’s inept ability to contain the current COVID situation. But it is still my home, and I hope to stay here in the long-term…at least until another city entices me to move out!
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The photos shared in the blog are beautiful. Yep no doubt Los Angeles is the city of Angeles. I Will surely be visiting this angelic city
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Thank you! Hope you can visit the City of Angels someday.
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