It was almost 10 years ago that I last visited this beautiful place, the Hsi Lai Temple, in the city of Haciends Heights, California. This is the entry gate of the temple and monastary complex, taken from up the stairs inside, looking back over the gates toward the city. The Hsi Lai Temple is largest Buddhist temple and monastery in North America. It has been in this location for 32 years. The name Hsi Lai means "Coming to the West". It is a beautiful place with great architectural details and has a very sacred feel to it. You are not allowed to take photos in the temple sanctuary, but the rest of the grounds are open to visit and photograph. Once the Covid closure is over, I would love to go back for another visit. 11/30/20 My website: www.sparhawkphotography.com
Still in downtown San Bernardino, this is the San Bernardino County Government Center, next door to the County Courthouse. You can see the sculpture from yesterday's post, which lies between the two buildings. This one of the better-looking buildings in San Bernardino, built many years ago, but with a distinctly modern look, compared with the courthouse. This will be the end of the tour of San Bernardino. Unfortunately it is a city that has lost its original charm, and has fallen on hard times, and has a poor reputation regarding public safety. I worked in the city for many years, and it is sad to drive up and down once-thriving streets and seeing empty and rundown buildings and businesses. 11/28/20 My website: www.sparhawkphotography.com
I had an appointment for servicing my car yesterday in San Bernardino. Afterwards I went downtown and took a few photographs. This is one of the few historic buildings left in the city (for years the city fathers believed in tearing down the old and building new, with the destruction of the historic). This old theater was built in 1928 as a vaudeville and movie palace. Over the many years it has played host to many major screen and stage stars. To the current day (aside from Covid closures) it has hosted top quality musicals, plays and top touring groups. It is the home of a Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, the only one in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and one of very few in all of Southern California. 11/24/20 My website: www.sparhawkphotography.com
