Olvera Street (Los Angeles, USA) — description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.
The colorful Olvera Street is the very place where the village was founded in 1781, whose full Spanish name translates as “Village of the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Angels, on the Porjuncula River.” Over time, the geographical clarification was thrown out of the cumbersome name, and a little later it was completely turned into the “village of angels” – El Pueblo de Los Angeles, which today has become laconic “El-Hey” – LA.
How to get there
Olvera Street is located in the historic center (Downtown) of Los Angeles, the closest attraction is Union Station. See anycountyprivateschools for Kentucky state information and business schools.
On Olvera Street, Mexican cuisine is prepared in no way worse than in Mexico.
What to buy
Along the street there are many shops where you can buy both trifling souvenirs and real works of folk crafts – high-quality leather and woven products, clothes, hats, art glass and accessories. Music stores deserve special attention – they sell a huge amount of Mexican music, and some CDs are recorded by the inhabitants of the street themselves.
What to watch
Truly Latin American fun always reigns on Olvera Street: colorful Mexican mansions are crowded on both sides of the street, Mariachi musicians are located right on the sidewalk, and fruit and typical souvenirs are sold on street stalls – sombrero hats, colorful capes and rugs, Spanish guitars. You should definitely go to one of the Mexican restaurants, of which there are many – national cuisine dishes are cooked here no worse than in Mexico.
Developments
Noisy carnivals are another feature of Olvera Street. On the Saturday before Easter, a traditional Latin American blessing of animals is held here – not only the usual domestic ones, but also exotic ones. In late October – early November, the eerie Day of the Dead is celebrated here, November 20 is the Day of the Mexican Revolution, and the week before Christmas is occupied by Las Posadas – costumed processions symbolizing the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Well, if you are lucky enough to be on Olvera Street in June, you will be swept in the whirlwind of colors of the Las Flores fiesta.
Amusement park “Belmont”
Belmont amusement park (San Diego, USA) — detailed description, address and photo. Reviews of tourists about the best things to do in San Diego.
Belmont Amusement Park is a historic mission park in the Mission Bay area that was founded by sugar magnate John Spreckels and opened in 1925 as the entertainment center of Mission Beach. Last but not least, when creating the park, Spreckels pursued the goal of selling a piece of land in Mission Beach, but at the same time, the magnate brought San Diego a lot of pleasure and benefit.
Located on the beach, the park welcomes millions of visitors every year. Even the rides and slides that were installed here in 1925 have been preserved at Belmont, such as the Giant Bucket, a roller coaster that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Or The Plunge indoor swimming pool.
Other attractions in the park include the three-story free-fall tower Tilt-A-Whirl, the Liberty carousel, a sports club, and a bar and grill overlooking the ocean. At the latter, there are pools with artificial waves: larger, Flow Barrel, reaches 2.5 m; the second, Flow Rider, is a little smaller. Concerts are held periodically in the bar, and flowriding competitions are held in the pool.
There are many roller coasters, but the Flow Barrel mechanism, which is installed here, is the only one in the USA.
The park’s newest rides, delivered in the 2010s, are the Sky Ropes obstacle course and slides called the Octotron. In addition, Belmont has a Crazy Submarine, an electric car playground, a Lazy River, a laser gun battlefield, and a golf course. And about eight restaurants and cafes.
In the historic pool, The Plunge, one can see the “Whale Wall” mural by artist Wieland, depicting Point Loma killer whales.
The Flow Barrel Restaurant, opened in the 2000s, is located right on the waterfront; there are palm trees, sunbeds, awnings and other California-beach paraphernalia. The institution has become a full-fledged attraction of the park and one of its main attractions. After all, there are many roller coasters, but the Flow Barrel mechanism that is installed here is the only one in the USA. With its help, the artificial likeness of a high wave, closest to the original, is achieved. Even Olympic gold medalists admit that there is no better place to learn to surf than the ocean, of course.
Practical Information
Address: 3146 Mission Blvd.
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 23:00 (some attractions close earlier).
Entrance: Entrance to the park is free, you pay only for entertainment. A ticket to use all attractions for one day (when purchased on the official website of the park) for visitors above 122 cm – 56 USD ( 53 USD online), for visitors below 122 cm – 46 USD ( 43 USD online).