First, I’d like to tell you how I got to LA. I took a plane to San Diego, which was way cheaper. And also because I was going to visit some friends there first. From the airport, a nice man named Rod from Alamo asked where I needed to go, I said “To LA.” He drives a courtesy bus meant for Alamo customers or potential customers, but he grabbed my bag and told me to hop in, since the green line trolley ran right next to Alamo. So I got to the trolley for free, and he left me with an officer. The officer explained the Greyhound bus station (with buses leaving to LA) was at the end of the green line, next to 12th and Imperial. He was also going there. I bought my $2.50 one-way ticket and waited for the trolley. They pass every 15 minutes. We both got on the trolley and finally reached 12th and Imperial, 1313 National Ave (where Greyhound is) was literally steps away, and once the officer guided me, he wished me a good day.
There are restaurants at this stop, and Greyhound has free Wi-Fi. So I was going to get my 5 o’clock ticket, but they only had 7:15 left. Then another lady told me they did have 5 pm tickets left. The bus arrived and we were boarding, there was one more lady before me and about 6 others behind me, when they said the bus was full and the next one was leaving at 6 pm. So we waited until then, and it left until 6:30. But the bus was nice, even with sockets and free Wi-Fi.
I got to LA at 9:20 pm, and I only spent $27.50. A friend and I went to Apollonia’s Pizzeria on Wilshire Blvd, where we got a delicious and HUGE pizza, and obviously ended up taking it home.
Apollonia’s Pizzeria
The next day I ran some errands with my friend. We ate at Veggie Grill, where literally everything is organic and vegan. I had a buffalo chicken sandwich, the chicken made of vegan things obviously, and even the texture and consistency looked like real chicken breast! And the prices are really good. My friend went to the restroom and a man who had been looking at me was leaving when he said “Food is great!” I looked as if asking “Are you talking to me?” and he said “Isn’t it?” and I said “Yeah!”. In Monterrey people act like bitches all the time, so I’m not used to people talking to me out of nowhere. Then we went to The Grove and two strangers complimented me on my dress, which also never happens in Monterrey. We finished some more errands and headed home, it was dark already.
Veggie Grill
The Grove
And today, I went out onto the streets on my own. And by “on my own” I also mean no car, no maps, and a “No Service” cellphone. Anyway, here are some of my day’s highlights; they can be useful when you travel to California.
As I left my apartment and walked some blocks, I was waiting for the pedestrian light when a man interrupted the silence.
—Are you a Scorpio?
—(I looked around, was he talking to me?) What?
—What sign are you? I study astrology.
—Umm, Gemini.
(irrelevant chitchat)
—You Russian?
—Nope, Mexican.
(more chitchat)
—So, are you from Argentina?
—Uh, Mexico. I told you that.
—Oh, right.
(our light finally comes)
—Well, have a good day.
I’ve heard all kinds of stories, so while having this conversation I was grabbing my bag tight and I was also ready to run like crazy. After that I went to Samy’s Camera, which is a three-floor camera store. They sell books and lenses and cameras and they also do repairs. I went in because my Nikon was getting a lot of dust inside and when I tried to clean it, I only made it worse. They told me it would cost around $85 bucks and that I needed to take it to the Nikon center directly. I walked there, around 20 blocks away, without a receipt because I have no idea where it is. Finally reached Nikon and to my surprise, they checked my camera and said they would do a complimentary repair. But it will take a week, so I will spend these days without a camera. (Insert panic face).
I then headed to The Grove, and bumped into a girl playing violin at the streets. She was playing the Game of Thrones‘ theme song pretty nicely. To my left was the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, so of course I went there. The entrance fee was $10 for students and $15 general, but there was a “From Van Gogh to Kandinsky” exhibition, so I paid $25 to have access to that. They gave me a ticket to exchange for a free print at the store. The museum is great, they’ve got Kandinsky, Renoir, Picasso, and many others. But most importantly: Monet. They don’t have Dalí or Manet, though. The sculptures and everything else is also great, especially floor number 2. After I stared at Monet for hours, I went to the store for my free print, along with a pocket book about French impressionism, a copy of Damn Good Advice (for people with talent!), a copy of It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be, and an Andy Warhol Campbell’s mug.
Claude Monet View of Vétheuil, 1880
LACMA Store
They’ve got free Wi-Fi at the museum, so after memorizing my route to The Grove, I started walking. I took a look at the mall, saw that Hillary Clinton is coming to a book signing at Barnes & Noble on my birthday (this Thursday), bought some things I didn’t resist (like a cute iPhone 4S case, the Marilyn Monro LIFE magazine and a framed photo, and a purse and nail polish from Forever 21), went to eat next door at the Farmer’s Market, and went home. My feet were killing me and my spirit was dead for the day. Even though it’s 7:35 PM here my eyes are closing and my brain isn’t working anymore, so I’ll maybe have horrible mistakes/typos. If any, I’ll correct them later. Don’t kill me.
Hillary Clinton Book Signing
Farmer’s Market
Ps. So far the weather has been sunny but nice, and cold from 7:30 PM and on.
Helsy Flores 