Place Matters draft

 Venice Beach is a Mecca for the strange and inspired. In this way, it is like no other place in the world. Venice is home to artists, musicians, action sports addicts, and the most relaxed people on earth.  The only way to describe Venice Beach would be to say that it is a diverse network of people, experiences, and cultures all mixed together to form an area of blissful artwork.

                When I first crossed over into Venice from Santa Monica I thought I was in a different country. It’s a completely different world. Things and experiences are different there. There are street performers and starving artists as well as kids having skateboarding competitions. It’s like nothing I have ever experienced before. Everyone is loud and carefree; it’s my kind of place. Some of the things that happen there will push people out of their comfort zones, like a guy I saw that screams and jumps on glass. But, we all have to realize that expression is not a universal term, it means different things to different people.

                This place should be preserved because places like Venice are diminishing rapidly. There aren’t many areas where artists, musicians, and people in general can express their creativity freely. It’s something you have to experience to fully understand.  The best way to travel Venice is to immerse yourself in the culture and entertainment without judging anyone. Be open to experience and learn about life.