"Venice: Exciting, Ecletic, Eccentric !" Venice by marinarena

Venice is like the sun...

She stands out alone.

--From her conception, some loved to compare her with Coney (Island). However soon enough, Venice clearly took on her own identity.

She is bright.

--The hue of her buildings are almost blinding!

She is bold.

-- In color and in liberal politics!

She is untamed.

-- She is quite criminal when you have a look at her record. While the crime is not extremely rampart, it's worth noting. I would not want to test her at night!

She's full of energy.

-- Her vigor is best measured, quite ironically, on her lazy beachfront area which is world-famous.

crowd along boardwalk, Venice, California

Leaving the urban jungle that is Los Angeles on a bus, I crossed a southwestern border of her to reach Venice. Not long after, buildings got brighter and more decorated with colorful figures, streets were getting narrow and police sirens grew louder and deafening. I knew just where I was heading into- the little wilderness of greater L.A. that is Venice. During the ride, a loud man began to mutter obscenities got on the bus. He was quite dishelved and just far, far gone in the mind. It was sad to see him. There is a good number of similar people especially in the city of Venice. People would call them bums. I call them glums!

mural in Venice, California

Each time that I go to Venice, I have to walk the famous boardwalk. It's a trite thing really, yet, just when I think it is always the same, there is something new discover. Despite the traps specifically for the tourists, I come. Perhaps I should be used to and tired of the free-spirited musicians, unabashed street performers and presenters, funky-hip clothing, explicit behavior of the folk, Muscle Beach, etc... but i have never grown use and tired! Still, I replenish that curiosity I had as a child of Venice and keep coming here...

• Pros:famous beach, great art scene, colorful murals/people, easy going, diverse locals and crowds
• Cons:scattered crime and dirty areas, not as safe to walk at night, stereotypicially "touristy", too congested on beach
• In a nutshell:Venice is that stereotypical representation of wild and crazy Los Angeles for the worst- and somewhat the best too!