Bluejake

3:30am Woke up after strange dreams. Awake for an hour.

8:30am Up and checking email. Preparing to switch back to NYC.

11:00am K in Beverly Hills with her mom, checking out wedding vendors. I decided to drive down to the beach via San Vincente, first stopping for cash at a bank. Strange to have to park just to hit an ATM. When I got to Ocean I decided to drive down to the Santa Monica Pier, which was about three quarters of a mile down.

11:30am At the pier. Lots of families out. I took some pictures of the tourists, and then walked to the end of the pier to take some pictures of the fishermen. Afterwards, I explored the amusement park, which was much less Lost Boys than the park in Santa Cruz. I didn't go on any rides.

12:15pm Drove down the beach to Venice, and parked in the lot off Rose. Noticed various beach bums washing their clothes in the public water fountain. Talked to L while I strolled down the boardwalk. Freaks everywhere- and lots of incense in the air. Crowds of tourists couldn't mask the air of defeat that hung around the place. Everyone seemed worn out- too much sun, for too many years- truly the end of the road. The place depressed me, so I turned around after a mile and headed back to the car.

1:30pm Lunch on Montana with K and D. The Chinese Chicken Salad is L.A.'s greatest contribution to world cuisine.

2pm K and I walked down Adeleide to Ocean and through the Palisades Park. Talked about the future and school- feeling much better on all counts.

4pm Stopped in to say goodbye to K's grandmother- talking mainly about the wedding and when we'd next be out in L.A.

6pm Back at the apartment, packing. K, D, and I preparing dinner- seafood salad- excellent.

8pm Running late, threw all of our stuff in the car and dashed for LAX. After the usual complications (faulty e-ticket, full strip search from the guards) we made it on to the plane and found two seats together. Instantly asleep.

Travelogue