Sunday's Column - Olvera Street

This Sunday's column was about Olvera Street.  Right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, this little piece of Mexico is about as genuine as you can get.  I went there to buy a small leather bag for the back of the Harley and as usual had no problems finding the ideal piece at a very reasonable price.

Mariachi Musicians Tuning up for the Days Performance

The original name of the city was El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles sobre el Rio Porciuncula and I'm glad we don't have to struggle with that everytime we give our destination.

Olvera sits on a slight rise and it was because of the flooding of the Rio Porciuncula that caused its new location.

In the center of the street is the site of the oldest original building in L.A.  It was the country home of Don Avila and a wander around it will give you a good sense of how life was lived when the city first began.  Returning outside, with the smell of the food and the sound of the music you really feel that you are in Mexico.  While there I even had my first taste of Horchata, which is a very sweet concoction of a rice drink.  Quite nice.