About L.A. & reflexions on urban traveling

Running around the city to look at stuff I’ve seen countless times on TV – from better angles, closer and with better lighting – seems like a vacuous waste of time to me. There’s very few good pictures opportunity in it: these places are flooded with tourists. There’s very little to enjoy: like I said, these places are flooded with tourists. I find it strenuous and boring. And it leaves me with an empty feeling… or worst, the unsettling feeling that I am broken: Why can’t I marvel before these landmarks like everyone else? Why am I not having a blast? Am I the only one who’s rather die than to eat at Mel’s Drive In? Why can’t I be more grateful to be here? Why are these freaking tourists walking sssooo slowly?!

I think what I like best about camping is that it’s always an “experience”: sleeping in a tent, hiking, kayaking, cooking my food over an open fire, etc. It’s about doing stuff I can’t really experience anywhere else. Traveling as we did in L.A. felt weirdly like going to the zoo: we watched supposedly exotic things from behind bars. It wasn’t engaging.

I left with the sinking feeling to have seen nothing more of L.A. than what I had already seen in the movies. And I’m sad to report that everything in the movies looked better and more impressive. Deeply unsatisfying.

For my future trips, I want to concentrate on experiences:

• Eating in good restaurants intended for the enjoyment of locals – not only for the convenience of tourists (which we mostly did on this trip: one of the things we learned from SF).
• Splurge on a meal I usually couldn’t afford.
• Watch people while having a drink.
• Try an activity I wouldn’t do in my everyday life (skydiving, for example).
• Take my time because I’m on vacation.
• Enjoy the perks of living in a hotel.
• Rent an apartment instead of a hotel (hotels are nice, but after 2 days, the novelty kind of wears off…).
• Walk around to get a feel of the city (which is not easy in L.A. since everything is so far apart… It’s one of the few place I would say you can get a better feel of the city by driving).
• Not care about crossing “must see” landmarks off my list unless I feel a strong personal connection with the place.

The key to a trip (in my opinion) is to find contrasts, something different from what you know. What differentiate Los Angeles from San Francisco is not the Hollywood sign or the Chinese Theater. The real differences are in the little everyday things, things that change and shape the people who live there.

Well. Life is a lesson, right? I’m sure we’ll get better at traveling with practice – fortunately, it’s something I don’t mind practicing often! ;)

So, as an ending note, here are some impressions and highlights on our trip to Los Angeles:

• The serendipitous discovery of the Mexican restaurant with the most amazing decor ever – even the soundtrack was epic: Spanish covers of 50′ oldies. It was like stepping on a set for a Tim Burton/Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino collaborative movie. I’d totally watch that movie.
• The never-ending bus ride from Getty to Venice beach. It wasn’t nice, but it was… different.
• The long and tall Mexican Fan Palm trees. They are tall! And everywhere! It gives the city a weird, unique look. Well, unique for this girl who never went to Florida and other similar locations ;)
• How little they care about pedestrians. The sidewalks were so messed up and poorly repaired and patched.
• How the Universal Studios Park is in much need of a rejuvenating cure: I don’t mind going back in time and relive the thrill of Jurassic Park and the Mummy, but really, there’s been 2 new Terminator movies since T2, and 3D isn’t very exciting anymore since it spread to every theaters. What they need is magic…
• The “Front of the Line” passes at Universal Studios, one of the most “Hollywood” experience we’ve had: passing in front of everyone and never waiting in line. AH!
• Laughing glances exchanged with Alex during the very tacky and degrading “Hollywood Star Home Tour” – during which you see very few homes but lots and lots of bushes.
• The delicious and humongous cocktails of the Saddle Ranch Chop House.
• The complimentary cotton candy tower of the Saddle Ranch Chop House!