Dec 07, 2022 20:08
I realized late in the game that I wasn't going to the same LA hotel as last time -- this time I was going to the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Given the cultural supremacy of Beverly Hills in these United States, I started to expect something glamorous. But after a long day of travel, my actual hotel room is rather uninspiring and truly below average. Noisy even, from Santa Monica Blvd immediately outside my window. I brought ear plugs, and they block the noise, so I'll sleep fine. I'm learning to tune out the noise.
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My direct flight was full, and the person who sat next to me had some sort of spectrum disorder -- as the plane was taking off he became physically agitated and those around him began fearing for our safety. He was traveling with somebody, but nowadays you don't get to sit together unless you pay extra to choose your seats, so his travel companion across the aisle was trying to explain his problem -- I was wearing earplugs so missed it. He calmed down. But later he was reseated next to his companion, and was replaced with a much calmer and smaller person who was pleasant to sit next to.
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Our flight plan was changed due to weather, so the flight was a bit longer than expected, and over six hours. So long to sit in one spot! I tried to work on my presentation for a while, but got sleepy, tried to nap, but whoever was sitting behind me kept pushing into my seat like they had super long legs. I read a short book on my phone, and started another. Tried to nap again, tried to work again. Figured I'd work when I got to the hotel. But my hotel room was depressing me with its complete lack of amenities, view, or ... anything. So I went on a walk!
Perhaps to find dinner! The room service options were as uninspiring as my room.
I did scout around via DoorDash and Google Maps before I left, so I had an idea where to go. But so much traffic noise here, and most of the shops are oriented toward high-end fashion and beauty -- Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hills Starbucks, though, where I saw homeless people sipping osmotically on their beverages while exhausted staff mopped the floor.
I popped into a vegan Thai restaurant and had dinner there -- all by myself -- no other customers inside as traffic raced by on Santa Monica Blvd. It was a bit early for dinner in Beverly Hills, I guess.
They didn't serve alcohol. Which was fine.
I walked back to the hotel, decided to have one drink in the lobby before going back to my depressing room. There's a big gala happening here tonight, to End Mental Illness. People dressed up to 110%, with make up 110%, hair styled 110%, plastic surgeried up (eww), photographers, a runway -- so Hollywood. Yes, they're going to End Mental Illness tonight. Tomorrow we'll all feel much better. You'll see.
Now that I'm finally back in my room, 7:30pm here, I'm tired. I grabbed some expensive snacks from the gift shop because I'm probably going to bed at 8pm, which means waking at 2am, and that's when I'll start working, so I've got some snacks to get me through until 6am when room service can deliver expensive breakfast. Or I'll walk to pick up some breakfast burritos on Santa Monica Blvd.
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I guess after my panel tomorrow I'll explore the heart of Beverly Hills in broad daylight. The shopping, a wine bar, maybe treat myself at a fancy restaurant. But as I was walking back to the hotel I thought why the fuck would anybody live here. I guess if you aren't on top of a busy street you can have a gigantic estate for gazillions of dollars. I should check Zillow ...
Yes, ALL THE HOUSES COST MILLIONS.
The least expensive house for sale in Beverly Hills is $2.5 million, for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath. The most expensive is $100 million, for an 11 bedroom, 16 bath. There's a definite price gradient from south to north. Nobody wants to live in south Beverly Hills LOL.
Who needs 16 baths? How many maids do you need to clean all those?
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OK, that's it, I'm sleepy, and I don't function well when sleepy. I'll get up at 2am and start cramming then.
Nite nite
wealth,
travel,
sleepy,
beverly hills,
emotions,
los angeles