A few months ago, my husband and I needed a “day”cation and decided to drive an hour north to Laguna Beach.
We started with a delicious lunch on the outdoor patio at C’est La Vie. Afterwards, we headed to Heisler Park. This park offers an easy one mile walk along the coastline. In addition to the ocean views, there are 17 pieces of public art to enjoy. Two of my favorites are included below. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
“The Sea Breeze” by Sukhdev Dail. This beautiful sculpture is of a woman holding up a canopy of colored glass as if she is catching the breeze. A fascinating fact about the sculptor is that back in the day, he worked in animation on shows like the Flintstones, Scooby Doo, and The Rugrats.
Above her head and along the walk, we were treated to a temporary art installation of vibrant sky nets by Patrick Shearn called “Sunset Trace.”
“Rendezvous” by Nguyen Tuan. This romantic sculpture is Tuan’s vision of two lovers who find their perfect point of balance and trust. In 1989, after several failed attempts, Tuan escaped a concentration camp in Vietnam and made it to the United States. He became internationally known for his weightless sculptures where he merges Western techniques with traditional Eastern values. Tuan has also sculptured several Vietnam War memorials.
Side note: On the way home, I wanted to drive to the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel. I hadn’t been there since the 90’s. Back then, I’d drive up and meet my friend for a fancy happy hour. She lived in Irvine and the Ritz was right in the middle for both of us. My memories were crushed as I’d forgotten that the entrance to the Ritz is very underwhelming. It is built on a bluff, so all the views are inside the resort. Since we weren’t guests or dressed appropriately, we decided not to visit.
I hope we can heal from this pandemic and travel again soon. Stay well.
