Thelma and Louise's Most Excellent L.A. Adventure. Part 4.

Saturday, June 25th, 2011.  Watts Towers, Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice Canals.

The first order of the day was to refuel the Chevy Malibu LT.  The place where we stopped had gas for $4.07 per gallon.  Most everywhere we saw in the area afterward was around the $3.86 mark, which is pretty much what it is in our Northeast Oregon town.  Also, we forgot that in Cali you pump your own gas.  They won't let you do that in Oregon...they're afraid we'll spill or something.  We pulled in only to be told that our gas tank was on the other side.  Ooops!  They must think we're total idiots.  See us above, smiling nicely to the attendant?

Somewhere along the road, during the planning and researching phase of our journey, I came across a reference to the Watts Towers.  I read up on them and they sounded interesting.  Then I found this YouTube video about the towers and the man who created them and I was hooked and determined (within reason) to see them.



I wrote to the tour place ahead of time and was assured that, for the most part, the reputation of the Watts area of L.A. as being a crime-riddled-death-trap was all hype.  I printed instructions, tour times and rates and other such information and took it along just in case.  We asked a front desk attendant at the Travel Lodge if it would just be crazy and foolhardy for two white women to go into Watts to see the Towers.  She said it would be fine to go.  OK, I did happen to note that she was a statuesque, African American woman, but I don't think she would tell us we could go if we couldn't.

It's only $7 to tour them, inside the gated boundary.  We printed our MapQuest map, and decided to head out early, and be there for the first tour at 10:30 a.m.  Our reasoning was, that the hoodlums, were still asleep from the previous night of gang activity.  It's interesting to note that the towers have endured unharmed and unvandalized since the 20's, and are considered neutral and even sacred ground.

We are so glad we went.  First, you watch the video I've included above, and then a tour guide takes you in and tells you info about the towers.  It is a surreal place.  Even when I was researching it, I got the sense that Simon Rodilla was both mad-man, genius, and extra-terrestrial.  You must go if the video above sparks your curiosity at all.  We took TONS of photos.  It's hard to pick a favorite.  I'll share just one of MANY.

This photo is of the entrance to Simon's home area.  You can see the intricate work of inlaid shells, broken dishes, tiles, bottles, and found objects that literally cover every square inch of the structures.  He worked on this project alone, for 30 some years, with only hand tools.  He was 4 ft 11 inches of raw energy and maniacal creativity.

Of note, among many things is that Simon, an Italian imigrant and uneducated man, built part of this structure to resemble a ship.  He chose the lot specifically for it's dimensions.  He faced the "ship" towards Italy.  There are even design patterns on the outside of the wall to resemble the water line on the "the ship".  He built an outdoor oven that he baked bread in.  There was an outdoor fountain/pond that was later used by many churches for a baptismal place.  The structure has withstood and passed earthquake stability tests.  It's all just super fascinating.

The neighborhood where the towers are situated was about all of Watts that we saw (except for a small portion of the downtown area when we got turned in the wrong direction).  The lots are small, houses small, and close together, and all are fenced.  There are some beautiful fences with decorative accents that each property seems to share as a theme.  There are movie cliches as well; men, three or four, sitting in chairs on corners watching the world go by.  Primarily African American, with some Hispanic, we were the only two Caucasian people I saw.  Having grown up in a predominately white, rural area, it is a fascinating experience to be a minority, even for a short while.  It really gives you pause for thought, reflection and perspective.

I'm sure there are issues with crime in Watts.  But these towers even survived the Watts riots which took place only blocks from here.  It was a beautiful day.  We had no problems.  I'm sure it makes good sense not to wander around on foot on your own, or to be there at night.  So for us, going in the morning gave us plenty of time for getting lost (we just once again, went the wrong way on the right street).  I loved this place.

I think I'll stop here for today so as not to make the posts all super long.  Tomorrow I'll tell you about Venice Beach Boardwalk, and the Venice canals.