for my final spring break i decided to actually go on a vacation that didn't involve minneapolis. it just so happened that my tall buddy, rocky, lives in L.A., so we all know what that means, FREE LODGING. that's right. i'm cheap. so I embarked on a chilly saturday morning for the city of angels.
my first southwest flight was fantastic. I had a short leg to Kansas City where I spent my hour chatting with a 59 year old insurance man about the ways of the world. The exit row we were seated in gave me unneeded leg room, but made me happy nonetheless.
I then landed in KC where I was disenchanted due a second t
rip through security for the day at the hands of a poorly designed KC airport. However, my second leg of my trip had me seated to a young medschool hopeful, aptly named Mike, who kept me company and didn't make too much fun when I took 50 pictures of the rockies and grand canyon. When I exited the plane the flight attendant leaned over and said, "at least you had something nice to look at for the flight." touche, three-che, NICK LACHEY!
I arrived in L.A. early and was greeted by aforementioned tall redhead and preceded to take a million pictures. The first night in town Rock's roommate Sarah and her gf Ling cooked us the best fajita burritos of my life. Coupled with wine and good conversation, it was a topnotch night. Added fun included seeing my good friend Tressa from high school for the first time since my wedding.
The next day Tressa, Rock and I headed out to breakfast at a fine establishment called "Nick's Diner." Nicks offers a stunning selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner selections. Particularly impressive is the willingness to substitute. For example, if you ordered the Waffle, Egg, Meat and Hashbrown combo that I did, you can have your choice of whipped cream, ice cream, strawberries, bluberries and three choices of syrup on your waffle, the egg anyway you want it, bacon, sausage patties or sausage links, all also available in soybean versions OR turkey versions. Amazing. They had a Wall of "Famous" folk. The only person I recognized was Helen Hunt. Most looked like this girl. ---------------------------->
The rest of the day Rock and I spent time at Venice Beach watching the rollerskating dancers, the street entertainers, the crashing waves and, most notably, the fourteen-year-olds who were taking sexy-time photos of themselves. a hem:
We made appropriately loud fun of them, I think.
We then had a delicious dinner at the Library Alehouse. I had the best tacos of my life not to mention more than one hard cider. The thing about Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach is that they have cool shops and/or fun flavor restaurants all about them. I miss the flavor.
The following day Rock took off work so we could enjoy the splendor/trashiness of the Walk of Fame, aka where all the sidewalk stars are. I was more than somewhat disappointed at the poor upkeep of the sidewalk stars, particularly Frank Sinatra. We decided to bypass the woman who pulled her child's arm so hard that she fell on the street and head into a very interesting store. Part of the store had designer clothing and the other part was slightly questionable and cheap. The store owner walked around with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Rock decided to buy a pair of jeans, at the bargain price of $10. The store owner (still with cigarette) told her if she were willing to pay cash he would not charge tax. She told him that she had no cash and preceded to hand him her credit card. He then told her that he would not accept her card because it would cost him $2 to run the card and the jeans were only $10. After a bit of a squabble, we left the store sans jeans. Creeeeepy.
After our trashy experience, we headed to Rodeo Dr. I would like to note that prior to leaving the house, I was not aware we would go to the site of the Mighty Ducks fashion show and chose to wear a little league Dodgers uniform I picked up at Good Will. Suffice to say no store clerk would even look at us, let alone offer to help. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Every ounce of me had to fight the urge to buy a big hat and a polka dot dress and head back in and say, "You work on commission, right? Big mistake, BIG MISTAKE." However, the price of said outfit would have been a "big mistake" for little-miss-future-homeowner me.
We drove through Bel Air and along highway 1 and thus began my quest to get the perfect sunset picture. Here is an example. Mostly, though, I just took pictures of this same scene and cars driving across it.
Other highlights of the trip include: the waiter, with perfect Italian accent, at the Italian restaurant we ate at who approached us when we were reading the menu outside the restaurant with the line, "Laaaaaadies, come inside, great food, great selection, great wine, waiter with a smile." The food service worker at In and Out burger who reprimanded me for taking a picture inside said In and Out burger. Apparently the In and Out burger workers cannot be distracted by aimless tourist photographers. I lied and said I deleted the photo, but here it is.
Highlights continued: Rock's very friendly and fun roommates, watching the dress rehearsal of Rock's performance of the Vagina Monologues, and the giant plate of nachos I got at LAX before my flight home.
I found L.A. to be very interesting. A place where an omlette comes with avocados, tomatoes and sour cream. An odd mix of glamor/superficiality and those rebelling against said attitude. There is more money than can be comprehended, but also more graffitti and rebellion than I've ever encountered. People seemed to be more worried about the environment, yet L.A. is the most smog ridden city in the states. These paradoxes made it a great place to visit, though, unlike Rock, I can't see myself living there forever. Here's hoping she'll choose Chicago instead ;0)
Jim, does this suffice?
the aftermath: check the wall in the photo of H and I.
