In my experience as an adult, I've visited places by thinking about it for a few days, planning for a few months and then going on the trip. Boom. Done. I've been fortunate that nothing has really held me back, including funds, vacation time or having any sense of responsibility. Just kidding. I don't have any real funds except for my lucrative weekend juggling act.
The one place that has eluded me for the past 20 years (this includes non-adulthood for all those keeping track of my age) has been the glamorously, famous, shallow city of Los Angeles. Ever since my teenage years when I dreamt of going to college in L.A. or running away there and opening a donut slash snack shoppe (notice my fun way of spelling 'shop'), I've had great illusions of what the city looked like, how it felt, how it sounded, and how easily I could zip from Malibu to Inglewood and all points in between on the many splendid highways.
I can now report that all these illusions were shattered. But in a fun, not-punched-in-the-gut way! Before I get to all that I experienced out there (my god, how long can I keep up this rambling? DON'T CHALLENGE ME!), I need to address the burning question: Why L.A.? Well, I'm not going to answer that. You like me being a mystery, you know it. Next: Why did it take me 20 years to visit? It's not like it's Antarctica or the island of Mauritius. I might have made that name up. Anyway, WHYYYY? I have no good reason. I have a bad one: I blame it on France. She and Canada kept getting in the way. Honestly, though, I think I didn't really want to go back to those teenage years and remember why I wanted to escape. So I never considered going to L.A. since I've become an adult.
But I finally did get out there based on a number of circumstances that no one (not even me) cares about at the moment. And what did I do?
- Stayed downtown with friends so we hit a few bars, including The Must and Wurstkuche that had a great local feeling. Friends have a rooftop pool area in their loft which is where the above skyline photo was taken.
- Grand Central Market - tasty tacos and pupusas.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame - Found Celine! And lots of other famous people's stars, including Gene Roddenberry, Leonard Nimoy, and Kermit the Frog.
- Grauman's Chinese Theatre and other historic theaters on Hollywood Blvd - Grauman's is where many movies premiere with the red carpet.
- Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills - as over-the-top ridiculous as it's purported to be. There were valet parking for stores, for crying out loud.
- Sunset Strip - lots of famous locales on this road, including The Viper Room and Chateau Marmont.
- Amoeba Records - largest used cd store in the country. It was amazing how huge the French section was. Yes, I'm that predictable.
- Hollywood Forever Cemetery - many old famous stars are buried here.
- Paramount Studios - rode around the entire lot on a cart and saw some stars. Walked through the set of Monk and sat in the studio audience for a little bit of a Nickelodeon show.
- Venice Beach - also known as Muscle Beach, there are crazies and medical marijuana stores on the boardwalk.
- Santa Monica Pier - ferris wheel and roller coaster that no one was riding.
- J Paul Getty Museum - huge, beautiful museum complex filled with art overlooking the city
- Mulholland Drive - where James Dean died; it has great views of the metro area and the houses built into the hillside are amazing.
- L.A. and Long Beach ports - so many ships and crates and crate-movers and the Queen Mary docked and used as a hotel.
- Cole's - one of two places in L.A. that claims to have invented the french dip sandwich. Did you know french dip was invented in L.A.? Me, neither! It was good and tasty.
- Watts Towers - highlight of the trip. See:
These are just three of the seven towers that Simon Rodia built by hand. Two of them are almost 100 feet high. He dedicated all his spare time when he wasn't working on this project over the course of 33 years. I'm not a big fan of folk art, but this is inspiring, amazing and crazy. The tour guide was a wonderful gentleman named Mr. Powell who grew up in the area and was so passionate about art and the history of the area. Watts is in the South Central L.A., a.ka. The Hood. This artwork is huge and should be everyone's tourist itinerary, even if you don't like art or history. You like crazy, right? This is crazy, but in a wow! wow! wow! way.
And that's pretty much how I felt about L.A. It lived up to my high expectations, just not what I expected. I know that doesn't make sense, but consider the source. Ok, so the traffic is as bad as they say it is. Holy moly, how is there rush hour no matter what time of day it is? But that won't stop me from going back. I did get to ride the subway and while it's not extensive, it suffices for going to the touristy places. Next time, though, maybe a whole day at the beach, lots more tacos from taco trucks and Watts Tower again.
I just won't wait another 20 years.
I was lazy and instead of doing a trip website, I just put up photos here. Don't feel compelled to click on it.
Las Vegas was the second half of this trip, but since it was my seventh time, I don't have much to say about it, except:
- Hitting a 4-of-a-kind in video poker makes me feel like I have a superpower. Which I do, it's just not that.
- Hanging out with friends from ATL was a blast, especially when Tecate and cosmos are involved.
- Red Rock Canyon State Park was beautiful, but for sheer spectacular-ness, I would recommend Valley of Fire over it, even though it's one hour away. Red Rock is only 20 minutes away.
- Downtown Vegas is as classy as ever. Fruity dragonberry drinks that come in a football shaped container was genius.
- Football watching at the Hilton during NFL season is the best thing ever invented, not counting Isabelle Boulay. Me betting and winning almost every game makes my head huger than normal.
Speaking of Isabelle (how'd that happen?), she has a new album out next month so prepare for more of my weird, off-putting comments about her soon. Woo, can't wait.