Emily Leyva | Contributing Writer
For a mere $10, anyone can purchase one unlimited weekend pass at any of the Metrolink’s kiosks for Saturdays and Sundays. If departing from the West Covina station, you can hitch a ride on the San Bernardino Line to Los Angeles Union Station and connect to any other six of the lines which transport you anywhere from San Clemente, to Glendale all the way up to Ventura.
But perhaps in order to get the most out of local culture is to stay put at The Los Angeles Union station. The station itself is immersed with history and architecture. It opened in May 1939 as the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, and is covered in travertine marble, acoustical tile and inlaid marble.
Directly across from Union Station in the oldest part of Los Angeles is Olvera Street, another historic landmark. Olvera Street is primarily a Mexican market which sells leather hand bags, candy, toys, and Catholic and Mexican artifacts. In the 1800s, it was originally known as Wine Street. In 1877, it was extended and renamed in honor of Augustín Olvera, a prominent local judge.
Olvera Street creates a retro yet romantic feel “Old Los Angeles.” The marketplace is narrow and about a block-long with trees, brick-lined pavements, painted walls, restaurants and gift shops.
“Many of the merchants on Olvera Street today are descended from the original vendors” said Lupe Fuentes, a frequent Olvera Street Visitor.
In addition to the modestly priced food items such as taquitos, tamales and chile relleno, visitors are also invited to listen to mariachi music and watch live performances from Aztecs and Mexican folkloric dancers free of charge. For holidays such as Los Tres Reyes, Blessing of the Animals, Los Angeles City Birthday, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Las Posadas, merchants and performers create extra involvement and excitement.
According to Olvera Street’s main website, the civic group Las Angelitas del Pueblo also gives free 50 minute tours of the area, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10 am, 11am, and noon. Visitors are encouraged to request a tour at least one week in advance.
Regardless of your final destination, the Metrolink is a great fun, fast and cheap way to travel that will bring you to learn about new cities and culture.