Exploring Southern CA - In My Own Little Way

Greetings All

Been here in Arcadia/Pasadena (Live/Work) for just over a month, so high time it was last weekend that I did a little exploring with a camera (as I'd promised you die-hard readers I would). What I decided would be an easy and photogenic trip by bus/foot turned out to be not so much the former, but very much the latter - The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino (just South of Pasadena). Herewith is the photographic evidence that "I've been there and done that!"

Being ever too trustful of Google Maps, I set out on the Metro 79, which actually starts a couple blocks from my Extended Stay abode, and runs all the way (through several communities) to downtown L.A. (that's a future adventure). Hopping off at Huntington Blvd. (an inter-city route I take all the time from Arcadia) and San Marino Ave, I was presented with what has to be the most "ghetto fabulous" bus stop I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot of 'em!):

Yes, Virginia, that's really the bus stop - it has cozy benches inside, and there's positively no other excuse for it to be where it is.

This should be a clue (if I hadn't already suspected), that I was NOT entering a "low rent" (or even middle-class) district. In recent times I've learned that I can fit in anywhere - from a homeless shelter to the Ritz (whether or not anybody else - say, a security guard - agrees) so long as I behave appropriately to the venue. So no silly posh bus stop is going to daunt this explorer!

What follows is a photo-montage of my expedition up (and I do mean UP - all the way - though only at a mild grade) San Marino Ave, where Google Maps promised me (heh) I'd find the entrance to The Huntington about 1 mile North. I include a few look-backs at the major intersections (including Huntington & San Marino). The picture names are actually short captions (you can see them by hovering the mouse on most browsers), though I'll comment where appropriate. About half of my photos are from the walk BEFORE I got to The Huntington - you'll likely understand why when you see them - I need some friends in THIS neighborhood, oh yes, I do.

Above is actually somebody's house (like many near it) whom I'd forgive of many a sin were they to befriend me for a weekend. :)

Corner lots are always so under-rated. :)

Gosh I just can't decide - could you show me something in a ranch style?

Ok, I see the sign! But Google Maps said a different street! Adventure-bound, I continued on up San Marino...

Wow, this looks adventurous - I wonder where it ends up?

Oh, I see. :)

Right about here, I saw California Street (Pasadena!) was ahead of me - I'd I'm already well-enough versed in the area to know I'm way too far North! Ok, ladies, you win. :)

My camera battery was starting to spook me, so I laid off the photos while I was headed back down to the sign...

And followed it here.

One thing noteworthy about this adventure is that in the 3-4 hours I spent at this place, I barely scratched the surface - it's HUGE! I managed to see maybe 1/10 of it, if that, and the only building I went into for about 1/2 hour was the Huntington Art Gallery (one of several). This is definitely one of those "must go back" venues, and I plan to!

This is the Huntington Art Gallery, full of large paintings and sculptures from the periods the Huntingtons collected. This building was actually their residence, and many rooms include furniture/settings from the Huntingtons' lifestyle. I didn't get pictures inside, as a flash isn't allowed (they have pretty high security, and a black-tie "host" in every room), and I didn't feel like fiddling with the low-light settings on my camera with the spooky battery.

This is the entrance to the Children’s Garden, a very serene place I think I'll eat my lunch at next time. :)

Perfect spot for a bag lunch - I saw one of the staff doing that (elsewhere).

One of many signs directing visitors around the multi-acre site. They also give you a pretty good 3d style map in their visitor handout.

The North Vista Lawn - I wonder what these guys do at night; maybe I don't want to know. :)

This is the greenhouse and botanical display that I didn't have time to go in. Betting it's incredible, so it'll be on my list when I go back.

This is (I believe) looking toward the Chinese Tea Garden, where I took most of my pics to follow.

      This is one entrance to another garden (can't remember which), very well guarded. :)

This is the Zen (Japanese) garden, which is under expansion/renovation at picture time (couldn't enter). I'm looking through a chain-link fence at the construction site, which to me is pretty anyway, but will no doubt get prettier. Blast those dad-gum aliens who landed their star-cruiser right next to me as I was taking the photo (that's their landing strut you see in the foreground). :)

I also blame the aliens for my camera battery wimping out on me right about then - so I knew it was time to bug out (anyway) and plan my future return. Here are a few previously taken "parting shots"...