Santa Ana

I grew up there…. heeh

I went to 6th grade private school here for a year! Then back to Michigan.

Lots of people working hard to get by, in a county where the odds are stacked against them. Lots of places to get some of the best food from Mexico around - from all over the country - and from further south as well. Lots of great houses, lots of dreams, lots of heart.

..makes the visit worth it. There’s nothing too incredibly exciting in the outskirts, with a few exceptions, and the areas immediately surrounding downtown aren’t exactly safe, but I have fond memories of being a volunteer at Koo’s Cafe when it was located off Main St. near the central area, close enough to the arts district, which I think is the most cultural yet most ‘real’ part of Orange County today. Another part of downtown boasts the highest per capita of Latinos in the country. Walking on 4th st. can temporarily make you think you could be in Mexico (stressing “can”.)

Overall, it’s a really nice, interesting, and succinct escape from any stereotype of O.C., and I hope it stays that way.

Typical crowded mostly low-buildings city with a crazy government. In ‘04 named the most difficult place to live in nationwide!