LA Woman
I was planning on going to Sequoia National Park with some climbing buddies this weekend, but since it was going to be 44 degrees, I canned it. I went to the Police Friday night, then swing dancing instead. Now that I think of it, I might have posted that already, and excuse me for repeating myself.
Saturday at 10 a.m., I hopped in the car and drove about 11 hours. Yup, I finally finished my Route 66 journey. I went back to Kingman, AZ, where I had left the Mother Road 2 years ago. God, it's been 2 years already. From there, I went through some of the most beautiful scenery on this Earth, Arizona is probably the luckiest state in terms of natural beauty. It's got the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, and the mountains and hills around Oatman, with its cheesy ghost town and wild burros. Just gorgeous, even in the drizzle and rain.
California, on the other hand, was boring. Miles and miles of boring. With two exceptions: the bottle farm outside of Helendale and oh gz...there was something else, I just can't remember what. San Bernadino, however, looked fabulous, even though it was late dusk. From what I could see, San Bernadino looks amazing, set in misty snow-capped mountains. I chugged along to Pasadena and went dancing, huge dance event that happens every week. I'd say at least 200 people. Lots of fun. Hung out with the lindy hoppers, of course, and was told to go dancing at the Cicada Club tonight, in vintage.
Checked into my hostel around 1 a.m., had the darnedest time finding it. Nice place, it was once a mansion, with a library upstairs (that I'm using right now) and a few long-term residents.
First thing to do this morning was go see the Chinese Theater. So I drove up to Hollywood Blvd and walked probably about 2 miles to the Theater. On my way, I saw a vintage clothing store, so I spent an hour and $40 there getting a fabulous Chinese dress. It had a torn seam, so I got a discount, but still had to find a place to fix it. Right next door, there was a huge farmer's market so I got cherries and strawberries. Yum! Saw so much amazing architecture, tons of stuff from the 50s, some art deco, just lovely. The Chinese Theater was a massive horde of toursists, of course, and tons of costumed people posing with them for pictures and a tip. I was told by a Captain Sparrow that, "I know you live here, but give me money anyway." I was surprised, it was really funny. I should have told him that I'd give him a buck for the name and address of a tailor open on Sundays.
Took the metro to Universal City, hated that, just way overdone. Came back to my car and drove the rest of Rte 66 out to Santa Monica pier. Got my feet in the ocean, it was cold. Had a hamburger on the beach. Not quite cheeseburger in paradise, but close. Oh, and on the way, found a tailor open on Sundays who did my dress in 3 hours. Then stopped by the La Brea tar pit, which is smack dab in the middle of Hollywood, in a museum complex. Now I know why it's called the Miracle Mile.
So I'm all set to go dancing tonight. I mean, I packed two other dresses, but this was a good deal and vintage. So it's time to figure out tomorrow's schedule. Shopping at IKEA and Steve & Barry's is on it, leaving relatively early to see San Bernadino by daylight. I think I might want to go to the Getty museum. In any event, it's been fabulous so far.
Saturday at 10 a.m., I hopped in the car and drove about 11 hours. Yup, I finally finished my Route 66 journey. I went back to Kingman, AZ, where I had left the Mother Road 2 years ago. God, it's been 2 years already. From there, I went through some of the most beautiful scenery on this Earth, Arizona is probably the luckiest state in terms of natural beauty. It's got the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, and the mountains and hills around Oatman, with its cheesy ghost town and wild burros. Just gorgeous, even in the drizzle and rain.
California, on the other hand, was boring. Miles and miles of boring. With two exceptions: the bottle farm outside of Helendale and oh gz...there was something else, I just can't remember what. San Bernadino, however, looked fabulous, even though it was late dusk. From what I could see, San Bernadino looks amazing, set in misty snow-capped mountains. I chugged along to Pasadena and went dancing, huge dance event that happens every week. I'd say at least 200 people. Lots of fun. Hung out with the lindy hoppers, of course, and was told to go dancing at the Cicada Club tonight, in vintage.
Checked into my hostel around 1 a.m., had the darnedest time finding it. Nice place, it was once a mansion, with a library upstairs (that I'm using right now) and a few long-term residents.
First thing to do this morning was go see the Chinese Theater. So I drove up to Hollywood Blvd and walked probably about 2 miles to the Theater. On my way, I saw a vintage clothing store, so I spent an hour and $40 there getting a fabulous Chinese dress. It had a torn seam, so I got a discount, but still had to find a place to fix it. Right next door, there was a huge farmer's market so I got cherries and strawberries. Yum! Saw so much amazing architecture, tons of stuff from the 50s, some art deco, just lovely. The Chinese Theater was a massive horde of toursists, of course, and tons of costumed people posing with them for pictures and a tip. I was told by a Captain Sparrow that, "I know you live here, but give me money anyway." I was surprised, it was really funny. I should have told him that I'd give him a buck for the name and address of a tailor open on Sundays.
Took the metro to Universal City, hated that, just way overdone. Came back to my car and drove the rest of Rte 66 out to Santa Monica pier. Got my feet in the ocean, it was cold. Had a hamburger on the beach. Not quite cheeseburger in paradise, but close. Oh, and on the way, found a tailor open on Sundays who did my dress in 3 hours. Then stopped by the La Brea tar pit, which is smack dab in the middle of Hollywood, in a museum complex. Now I know why it's called the Miracle Mile.
So I'm all set to go dancing tonight. I mean, I packed two other dresses, but this was a good deal and vintage. So it's time to figure out tomorrow's schedule. Shopping at IKEA and Steve & Barry's is on it, leaving relatively early to see San Bernadino by daylight. I think I might want to go to the Getty museum. In any event, it's been fabulous so far.