There’s just something about walking around a cemetery that brings people out in droves. I remember when I was seven years old going on walks after school with my tia (aunt) Pat, sister, and cousin around Calgary Cemetery on First Street in East LA. Whether it was being so close to the dead, or trying to beat my sister and cousin in a foot race to the corner of Eastern Avenue and First Street, it became a tradition for us to round the cemetery at least once a week.

At Boyle Heights Evergreen Cemetery, its rubberized jogging path marked it as a prime place to exercise, the spontaneous interactions and sights make it a unique experience. From her lighthearted post in January at  Misneighbors.com, Boyle Heights blogger Jessica Perez shows how the neighborhoods historic diversity at the Evergreen Cemetery intersects with its present culture of elote vendors and carniserias, and how pedestrians are exposed to both.

As Perez jogs by Los Cinco Puntos, she describes trying to resist the smell of carnitas rising from the carniceria:

“It slaps you in the face, and it feels (smells) good. I usually hold my breath around these corners… I’m afraid if I don’t I will run right into one of these and grab a taco de carnitas para llevar while I finish my lap. At least I’m walking it off right?”

To read the rest of the Mis Neighbors post, click here.