Il est encore moi mes amis “Me Again”

Tomorrow I start my trip back to Markham. 

It’s been a fantastic 12 days in West Hollywood. I spent quality time with my daughter, Erinn, and her husband, Jesse, exploring the city and beyond.

 

Usually it's the guy who patiently waits while his wife shops for cloths

I walked the streets of West Hollywood, took a trip to Santa Barbara, and experienced the daily LA phenomenon known as “gridlock.” If you think Toronto’s traffic is bad, a day in LA’s bumper-to-bumper standstill will change your perspective. It’s no wonder California has the strictest auto pollution laws in the U.S.—though the well-worn Toyota pickups favored by local handymen and gardeners might be the exception.

 

 

The Best Bumper-to Bumper there is, and this isn't even rush hour.  No gaps between vehicles during rush hour.

 

LA Drivers are wild. Don't signal, and park wherever they please.

 

For a state that embodies the "don’t want government involved in my life" ethos, California has some of the strictest consumer protection laws in the country. Case in point: where else are car manufacturers required to warn buyers about every potentially harmful substance in their vehicles?

 

On the diver's side window of a new Ford.

 

Los Angeles truly is the city of dreamers—and broken dreams. I met many fascinating characters, each with a story to tell.

One particularly memorable encounter was with a woman I called “the Webster's Dictionary.” She wouldn’t share her name or let me photograph her face, but she was fine with me taking a picture of her reading material. She loves learning new words while reading, hence the dictionary. Watching the way others interacted with her was a study in human nature—indifference from most, but occasional moments of kindness from those who took the time to engage. The so-called “weird” ones often had the most captivating stories and welcomed a genuine conversation. None were aggressive, some just wanted to be left alone and others were real chatterboxes.

She loved to read and always wanted to know the meaning of words.

  Then there was Santiago—not “weird” in the slightest, just proud and determined. He came to the U.S. from Mexico at 13, got an education, held various jobs, and now works for himself. Every day, he waits outside the local Home Depot with other hopefuls, seeking work. Articulate, friendly, and brimming with pride, I asked if he had a business card and he held up his sign and told me to take a picture of it..

 

Santiago, advertising for work outside of Home Depot in LA

Santiago

I also crossed paths with Luc, who was painting a mural on the side of a Chinese restaurant. Despite being in a hurry, he graciously took the time to chat and pose for a photo.

Luc creating his art

In Santa Barbara, I met Philip, an artist who creates intricate sand sculptures. He works in the hope that passersby will drop a few coins in his plastic bucket.

Phil and his lady love on the beach at Santa Barbara

 

California is a diner’s paradise, with endless options for eating out. Even something as simple as pizza is elevated to gourmet status here.

Presentation is everything

 

One of LA's most famous and in-demand eateries is built around the lowly hot dog. Pink's is in its 75th year of continuous operation.

For the past 75 years they've come from all over LA to line up in the heat

Jesse and Erinn waiting in line at Pink's

Like a ballet they spin, swirl, duck and out comes the food

 

Then there are the more formal casual dining places.

Fine casual dining LA style

Nothing like having lunch with a few friends.

Friends joining in for lunch

Los Angeles is undeniably a city of extremes. The divide between the haves and have-nots is glaringly obvious. It’s also a city overflowing with plastic surgeons, health food stores, gyms, beautiful people, and therapists. One sign I saw seemed to encapsulate it all perfectly.

 

So true

Speaking of over-the-top, I came across a promotional billboard boasting massive photos supposedly taken on a cell phone. I couldn’t help but wonder, this being Hollywood and Hollywood being Hollywood, if this wasn't just another movie set façade.

Images made with iPhone 6 or so Apple claims

A local told me there’s a stretch of Route 66 where the rumble strip plays “America the Beautiful” when driven over. I didn’t encounter this myself, but it left me pondering—if you drove the strip in reverse, would it play the song backward? Just a thought.

My return journey won’t retrace Route 66. Instead, I’ll head east to Palm Springs, then swing northeast to Jerome, AZ, onto Flagstaff, and further north to Page, AZ. From there, I’ll backtrack slightly and climb up to Mexican Hat, UT, and Moab, UT, before finally joining I-70 in Colorado for the eastward trek home to Markham. The trip back should take about five days—though with this adventure, who can say for sure?

I’ll try to blog regularly, but forgive me if I miss a day or two. This journey has been extraordinary, and I look forward to what’s still to come.

More to come…