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Getting lost is one of the best ways to discover places and since I almost never use GPS, I get lost quite regularly since I don’t know the Eastside of Los Angeles very well, having lived on the Westside for decades; the only times I crossed town was to visit friends or to have a daycation in Pasadena. I had printed out a map (yes one of those paper things) but somehow I still made a wrong turn due to construction detour signs, and I ended up in San Gabriel.
Once I drove past this structure, I immediately pulled over and parked. Turns out it is the Grapevine Arbor, and since there was no event going on, it was open to the public!
Beyond the little courtyard at the entrance (with toilets), lies this gate into the garden.
There is a vine covered gazebo
and facilities with water and grills.
An antique wine barrel stands to one side,
while palm trees,
a covered shuffleboard space,
and covered walkways stand on the other side.
Part of the San Gabriel Playhouse can be seen from the arbor park,
but walk around for a full frontal view
with the cooling fountain just next door, to the Grapevine Arbor.
Tiles in the sidewalk commemorate the history,
but a walk around the street gives you a taste of the present charm of the city.
Sometimes a journey to a quiet green spot like the Gardens of the Self Realization Fellowship Headquarters is the perfect antidote to living in Los Angeles; admittance is free and all are welcome to breathe in the peaceful surroundings. Enjoy the view from the top of Mount Washington; if you are on the West side, visit the Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades.
In the heart of downtown Los Angeles there is a hidden peaceful oasis; the Kyoto Garden in the DoubleTree Hotel in Little Tokyo is a tranquil, green, and gorgeous place to take a stroll and a deep breath. Enjoy the pictures, and if you are anywhere nearby, go enjoy the experience in person 🙂
This week-end was a celebration of parks in Paris, so I decided to go to Le Jardin des Plantes. I’ve been here once before when I rented a studio nearby, but it was in Winter, before I moved here. The balmy 70 F weather on Saturday, after a week of rain, made all the trees and plants come alive, as if to say “Finally some sun!” There are several areas for different kinds of plants from alpine to water based, and everything in between, including those that produce essential oils and food. Enjoy the photos as you stroll the garden with me 🙂
There were more people outside the greenhouse than inside!
There are several train (RER & SNCF Gare d’Austerlitz & Lyon), metro (Censier Daubenton, Austerlitz, Jussieu), and bus stops (24, 57, 61, 63, 67, 89 et 91) surrounding the garden, as well as a Vélib station.
You may of course arrive via private boat,
if you don’t live on one of the nearby barges:)