Los Angeles, CA

I admire anyone trying to learn English as their second language. It's no joke. They'll master the grammar fairly quickly, but the subtle meanings for one word are astounding. No dictionary is going to list every known definition. Take the word crazy, there's the literal definition but it's often used to describe a place. New York City is crazy, so is Los Angeles, but they're crazy in completely different ways. How to explain this to someone who asks, "What's Los Angeles like?" Sometimes it's best to let images speak for themselves, even moving images. Most movies tell a story about a character, some about a place through the characters, and you only need to watch Crash and Mulholland Drive to come to know the crazy which defines Los Angeles.

Don't worry, I didn't forget you Mr. or Ms. "I don't have the time to watch two two-hour long movies?!" Here are my favourite images of L.A., starting with downtown L.A.'s woodland themed cafeteria known as Clifton's. One word, awesome.

Around Clifton's there are stores and stores full of these bouffants. They're quinceañera dresses. I have little desire to try on wedding dresses for fun but a quinceañera dress? I don't know why I didn't looking at this picture. God, I can be such a bore sometimes!

My close friend mentioned that many tourists don't walk around downtown L.A. because you do need a car to see most of the sites, but do try. Else you'll miss Clifton's, quinceañeara stores (don't be a bore!), and the tar pits right in the middle of the city. Yep, nature au naturale in a concrete jungle. 

Our nights were naturally reserved for Hollywood. I kept hoping for a Lynch like moment considering he's one of my favourite directors. It didn't take us long to wander into such gems.

From this vantage point in Griffith Park I knew I barely knew L.A. even after a handful of visits. It has layers upon layers as Mulholland Drive, with the hairpin turns of the drive itself keeping your curiosity in check. It has a record number of crashes...

Length of Stay

Two to three weeks in a span of a few years.

Docking Index

      

7 anchors, I didn't think I would like L.A. as much as I did. No, I can't Botox away its many furrows (e.g. housing prices, traffic jams, pollution, drought, the profuse use of silicone outside of a computer) but if one of my closest friend can live here for as long as she has, maybe I can. She routinely manages to find the cutest apartments, the best furniture on Craigslist, and amazing vintage dresses with vintage prices. Plus they throw avocados on everything. Natural vitamin D and E? More money in the bank and less on supplements!