Canyon Livin', Part I

So much to process, this week just passed. We flew out to California for business and pleasure. The AAA (American Academy of Audiology) convention was held in San Diego this time, a happy instance as my wife's dear friend from college lives there. The friend very graciously let us stay with her family just north of downtown, mere minutes from the Convention Center (a gargantuan venue that is going to be expanded even further). More about that in the next entry. But first, we flew to Los Angeles for a few days of leisure. L.A. is one of the most intriguing cities in the U.S. to me. Maybe it's the countless films, television programs, songs, and books that have documented it. A mythos has been created that precedes any visit. Much to live up to. But, it never fails to fascinate me. A sun baked collection of freeways, tall palms, and vallies, L.A. is a character unto itself. Like any such thing, it has layers, a myriad of personalities. Its familiar locales seem real enough, yet part of a fantasy, a film set. Sometimes, it is, as you may likely wander onto a filming location at any moment. 

Strangely, I did not encounter much of the entertainment industry this time. Well, aside from the oversized billboards and industry advertisements that even stretch across office buildings. Sunset Blvd. alone is stimulus overload. It must be stated that almost immediately after retrieving our rental car near LAX, we got thee to an In-N-Out franchise. Only the best fast food burger you can get west of the Mississip, thank you very much. I had not had one of these in years. I had 2 friends rave over them in the last few months. They had excitedly told me how they ordered their "double double"s with a secret code modifier: "animal style". There is actually a whole list of codes that are not listed on the menu. Do a Wiki on this, quite comprehensive. But, animal style? Oh, yeah. The very fresh beef is cooked in mustard, smothered in onions. Absolutely essential cuisine. The In-N-Out fries are juliened and tasty, too. I captured a picture of the whole mess with my phone. 

We stayed in a bed and breakfast called Cinema Suites, on Fairfax between Olympic and Wilshire Blvds. We were in the "Gloria Swanson" room. Nothing in it suggested Ms. Swanson in any obvious way. The house was erected in the 20s, though, a distinctive 2-story with a brick stepped staircase and second floor library balcony accessible only from one bedroom. This B & B was a "fend for yourself" affair; we made our own breakfast on Day 2, rifling cluttered cabinets and the frig for provisions. Our hostess, Dianne, was a gruff but lovely lady who gave some good tips for navigating the area. And we were smack in the middle of everything: Beverly Hills was a half mile up the street, downtown within reach, Hollywood was close, etc. One had to park on the street, but it wasn't too difficult, surprisingly. The room and house were definitely "lived in". I wouldn't call the place immaculate, but it was homey and comfortable, filled with Asian ornaments and funky furniture. 

However, there was this odd convalescent home smell. Like Sarna lotion had been spilled everywhere. We also made a rather unwelcome discovery on the (communal) bathroom floor, but nothing traumatic or unfixable. We met a guy I had not seen since 1990 the first night. A childhood friend I first met in kindergarten Sunday School. He enlisted in the Navy right out of high school and returned 3 years later to WPB for a visit (we saw ROBOCOP 2; yes, I have this odd memory for such things). Dan retired from active duty in the late 90s and remained in CA after meeting his wife-to-be there. They would settle in Whittier, on the southern side of L.A. County.   Two children. Unfortunately, the couple are currently in divorce proceedings, but Dan reports that it is amicable. 

We walked around the historic Farmer's Market, both the older and newer sections. The latter is a distressingly generic collection of upscale retail outlets you see all over the U.S. But wander back to the original site and you'll see outdoor eateries and seriously cool gourmet food shops. We ate some primo barbecue at a newish joint. We had so much to catch up on, and had some very interesting discussions about family life that I cannot elaborate upon here, but they were enlightening. Afterwards, we cruised the Hills, Bel Air, Hollywood, the whole geography. Dan also showed off his Droid smart phone. I wish iPhone had the Google Sky application; you can point your phone upward and it will align with the stars above. The coordinates work even in the midst of a city washed in streetlights. The next day was spent at Griffith Park near the Hollywood Hills. It is a sprawling site nestled high and back from downtown, Century City, and the other basins. 

We stood on the decks of the Observatory (a great science museum and planetarium) and gazed at the skylines through the haze and smog, though it wasn't as thick as it was during my previous visit. Maybe it was because of the time of year; summer is worse for that. That evening we drove to Agoura Hills, a bit northwest and visited my second cousin and his wife. They prepared a lovely dinner. We spoke of our jobs (he's a corporate psychologist)and he gave me fascinating recollections of his early days in New York. I learned things about my family I never knew. This couple also showed off their garden, a beautifully landscaped assemblage of citrus trees and boulders-very California. A nice evening. The Getty Museum was the next day's business after a hearty breakfast at the Blu Jam Cafe on Melrose (recommended, get the migas-scrambled eggs with chorizo and other spices). The Getty is also high above L.A.; you park and then travel by rail to reach it. It is a HUGE place, with 5 buildings filled with collections that would take days to properly soak in. Leonardo DaVinci was the main attraction and we spent a few hours staring at his old sketchbooks and being mesmerized by 500 year old statues of John the Baptist and Pharisees. The outdoor gardens are also eye-filling. We saw a mere fraction of the Getty. Visiting is a must. Next, we'll head south to San Diego, with an eastern side trip along the way.....