Day Trippin-The Inspiring Watts Towers

Nuestro Pueblo (Our Town), The Watts Towers by Sam Rodia.

Construction Worker by day and Artist by night!

Ever since I saw the Watts Towers on a lecture slide in my undergraduate Art Survey class, they haunted me. They seemed so mysterious. Was it a sacred site in an urban jungle, I wondered what was Simon Rodia, the artists inspiration and how could he spend thirty four years of life on this colossal Sculpture. It kind of blows me away, his clarity of vision and his mastery of persistence.

Also, Simon was totally ahead of his time as the Watts Towers are completely Up Cycled. The Watts Towers are created from bottles and odds and ends. Rodia transformed others peoples "garbage" into ART. Maybe that is why he called in Nuestro Pueblo, Our Town, the sculptures were really bits and pieces from and of every one in the community. His work was essentially community ART reach. It is also curious, how when the Watts Towers were finished, he gave his ART and his land away.

The Watts Towers our a short trip only around 13 miles from Downtown LA. The neighborhood is unserved and at times could be a little sketchy. It reminded me of parts of Oakland or Richmond, it is really not that bad.

Next to the towers there is quaint little community Art Center. It was cute on the day we went they were having a piano recital. We got to see several community youth nervously play. It was wonderful to feel the pulse of the community.Also,the gallery had some great art exhibiting.

Simon Rodia had a big dream and he made it happen! Get inspired by the Watts Towers, it is definitely worth the trip!

Simon Rodia Watts Towers on Google Maps

Point Dume' for the Sunset, Malibu

Point Dume' at Dusk (the in between)

Point Dume' State Preserve is an amazing sanctuary.

"It features headlands, cliffs, rocky coves and vast beach access. The beach is presently operated by Los Angeles County, which also operates Zuma County Beach. These facilities are noted for swimming, surfing, scuba diving and fishing. Point Dume is a perfect place to watch for California gray whales during the December - March migration period."

It is a beautiful drive and is only around eighteen miles from Santa Monica on the PCH. To get to the beach you walk through this beautiful field of coastal foliage. As you approach the cliff, one breathes in and one breathes out, letting the internal aaaaah commune with the universe. The vista is just breathtaking. Dolphins are dancing in the surf and the pelicans are just so spectacular. To get down to the beach you descend on these rickety worn wooden stairs. This place is so lovely for a picnic, beach lounging, or an afternoon walk. And YES! there is no garbage to be seen. The only scar is there are these hideous water pipes from the mansions above that hang down from the cliffs. Oh, and there was a ship wreck on the beach; a small sailboat.

This time we decided to ascend to the top of the park to see the sunset. In the background are luxurious mansions, where many well-known entertainers live, like Julia Roberts and Bob Dillon. After moving to LA, I have decided to take the word "Star" or "Celebrity" out of my vocabulary. I think the actor, James Woods, said it best when he stated, "Celebrity - I don't even know what that means. Obviously it's the same basic word as celebration, but I don't know what's being celebrated."

The hike up is pretty easy and when we arrived at the top "aahhh" or shall I say "Carpe Diem." What a breath-taking sunset! I have to say once again, I love pelicans. I love how they dive into the sea and how they glide inches away from the water. They are just the coolest creatures. Primal is the best word to describe them. They seem ancient. No wonder the Alchemists used the Pelican in their symbolism.

Don and I have made a ritual of applauding to the sunset and its grandeur as it slips under the horizon. I first experienced the applause for the sunset when I was in Key West. Everyone gathers at the pier in Key West and watches the sunset and over the years they have adopted a tradition of applauding at the sun's finale. I thought that it was so cool; what a great way to celebrate life! So I have adopted that simple ritual into my day-to-day life.

If you are looking for an amazing day trip to another world, Point Dume is the place to BE.

Oh yeah, on our way back we stopped at Pavilion's grocery store (Safeway with a fancy name) in Malibu for some food and who did we see? The entertainer, Shannen Doherty, buying a sack of potatoes.

A day of breathtaking communion with nature and some E sitings.

What else can you ask for in LA?

Check out Point Dume on Google Maps

Day Trippin-The Lake Shrine

If you are looking for a day retreat from the chaos of daily life, the Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine is the place to BE.

"COME INTO THE SILENCE OF SOLITUDE,AND THE VIBRATION

THERE WILL TALK TO YOU THROUGH THE VOICE OF GOD"

-- PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA

Don and I kept driving past this interesting building in the Pacific Palisades, I had thought it was a Baha'i Temple. One day on one of our day adventures, we decided to check it out. This place is a sanctuary. The site induces reflection as one slowly walks around the lake. Breathing in the beauty of nature, the subtle signs, and exhaling the constraints of daily life. Don and I spent just one hour at this sacred site and I left with a sense of internal unity and peace. The Lake Shrine is definitely medicine for the soul.

Here is a little history:

The Lake Shrine was opened to the public on August 20, 1950, coinciding with the thirtieth anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda's work in America.Paramahansa Yogananda designed the Golden Lotus Archway (above) as a "wall-less temple." In India the lotus flower is a symbol of divine unfoldment--the awakening of the soul to its infinite potential.

It seems fifty years later Deepak Chopra has followed in Paramahansa footsteps.

Indulge in the clarity of your own reflection and your internal solitude at the Lake Shrine. It is so close and yet so far. As you are driving west on Sunset Boulevard on your way to the PCH, make a short stop and breathe.

Why not?

OM

Self Realization Lake Shrine on Google Maps.

quintessential quotes-travel

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

Henry Miller

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem LA is a travel log of our adventures in Los Angeles and beyond. In October 2010, we moved here from the San Francisco, Bay Area and we have a lot of unknown territory to cover. Since, the beginning of our relationship, which was over ten years ago, we have had the philosophy that the time we spend together should be a mini adventure of seeing or learning something new. We both love to travel and have traveled extensively around the globe.

The concept of Carpe Diem or living in the moment came naturally to us; we thought to ourselves, why not take the way we experience a new country and begin exploring our proverbial back yard. Hence, Carpe Diem: LA.

On this Blog we will explore Day Trips, Camping, Places to eat, Amazing Nature Hikes, Cafes, and Local Inspiration, and much more in Los Angeles and beyond.

Every day is a new and precious life Experience!