Los Angeles, CA … Take 2

Ahh.. the ability for a human connection to transform the simplest of interactions into profoundly deep, and binding experience.

The past week in Los Angeles was nothing short of amazing. Just finding the house Skira lives in, at the top of dark hill, fed by a narrow and winding one way lane shouldered with a steep drop off..

You ever visit a house in Trinidad where the address is so-and-so trace, and the dirctions inevitably include turning left at the second mango tree .. ?

That's the feel of this space. Even the arcitecture of the places, from the concrete pavings to the artists burgular-proofing .. palm and citrus trees in the yard .. that smell of .. life.. when vegetation grows freely, any and everywhere two roots can get purchase..

The only thing missing was the broken glass set in concrete atop the walls.
A few more crowing roosters would complete the picture..

Leon - this man can COOK!

Christy

My hostesses Skira and Christy were wonderful. Over the next few days we would share meals, laughs, jokes and dreams. Leon joined us later in the week, and added his seriously deep knowledge of the histories of the original peoples of this land.

"What's up, G?!"

The feel of Skira's home has been perfectly transplanted from Toronto to the hills of Lincoln Heights. Visitors dropping by, music playing, prose and poetry being read and written, cooking and LOTS of love and laughter ..

The only missing ingredients were the vinyl records ..

We visited many places aroud town, giving me ample opportunity to continue butchering the lovely Spanish language.

Skira

Props to Raul Martinez and his art work. I'll be looking for your mural down south ..

We went to see the mural along the historic archway leading to the old orphanage in Highland Park.

Irie and Eva

There we met the lovely Eva, and a crew of lively hikers, including Skira's twin -- Eyerie.

Eva