An old friend came to town, and that gave us the opportunity to look on Google Maps and find cool stuff close by to drive to and visit. Go Southland Rare Hidden Attractions!
In the coastal San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles (a former autonomous city that was annexed by LA), and the base of the Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula, an installation sits, a gift from the Korean President from 1976, the Korean Friendship Bell:
The pagoda sits on a hill overlooking the edge of the peninsula. The bell is constructed of many kinds of metal from traditional Korean methods. They have an informative plaque in bronze near the walking entrance.
The eaves of the shrine are beautiful and full of a vibrancy that you imagine is a visual representation of the sound it the bell makes.
We were tempted to strike the bell. In my state, the getaway would have been interesting. Also, we weren't sure it would have reached, as the lock up was noticeable:
Here's a shot of the shrine with the sun illuminating. The sky had been pretty cloudy, and started to break while we were at the Bell.
Well, that was a bit of weather misrepresentation. It was hazy in Long Beach, and as we traveled around the outer ridge of the RPV Peninsula, the haze was being burned off by the micro climates of the windward side of said peninsula.
The Korean Friendship Bell is a free attraction, so there's that as well.
