Travel: Los Angeles
Whenever my birthday comes around Armand and myself usually take a trip. Whether it be far or close by we always find a way to make the best of my birthday week. This year was no exception. We decided on the West Coast as we'd never seen it, and specifically decided on LOS ANGELES! As a native New Yorker, you have certain ideas about the west coast. You begin to think about all those "myths" the "they are so laid back over there" or the "they have the best tacos". You get excited because it's different. It's unlike what you are used to. I know for myself I was mostly happy to get out of the 5-degree weather (at the time NYC was hit with a super bitter cold).
Getting on the flight there was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I'm an awful flyer. There's something about the sense of having no control and being that high that bothers me about it. Alas, it's the only way I'll get to where I want to be faster no? So a girl's gotta do...
6 hours and that crazy time change later we'd arrived at LAX. I secretly hoped to see a celeb or two and in reality, during my entire trip, I didn't see any. It was perfectly ok though. After settling in we explored. We walked around a lot and found that in fact no one in LA really walks around. It was so strange to us. I got my glimpse of the Hollywood sign. We walked by Paramount Studios. We went over to the Larchmont area and had tacos (they were really good by the way). I even got to stop by a Goorin Bros. because it's what I do when I travel anywhere!
There was a sense of calm and relaxation when we got there. I peg it to getting there during a long weekend. We went to a Farmer's Market and later on in the day thanks to one of my closest most amazing friends Elaine we visited the Art District. That was all day one! We knew we'd gotten ourselves into a very busy vacation after that first night. So many friends and family came out of the woodwork and asked for time. Not everyone got it and I apologize heavily for it. This vacation. This experience this was for my boyfriend and I and we chose how we wanted it to be.
My birthday was the next day. We'd spent in Santa Monica, more specifically the pier. The Pacific ocean. Unreal that we were on the other side of America. While Armand took photos of everything GTA related I took it all in. I took in the fact that this pace was my pace and if I ever did end up on this coast I'd happily fit in (of course I'd have to learn how to drive). We'd gone to Barton G that night, a dining and entertainment experience one has to see to believe. Do head over if you've never been. We also hit up Universal Studios Hollywood that week because we are kids at heart. We loved The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, We met Krusty in Springfield, we went on the world-famous studio tour and I even got to tell Marylin Monroe how much my grandmother loved her, how much I loved her. It was a very touching moment.
After a day of taking photos for this very blog much of the middle of the week belonged to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Those of you who know me outside of this website know how much I love Disney. Minnie Mouse and Ariel (The Little Mermaid) are both favorites of mine and I had never been to Disneyland. So it was a MUST. I felt like a kid again. Getting on Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and enjoying new (new for me) favorites I'd never seen before like Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, and the Tiki Room.
Our final full day in California was spent with Armand's family. I hadn't met a lot of them and was so happy to finally do so. We've been together for almost five years and I'm still meeting family! How insane. We got to spend some time with his cousin Heather and his aunt Evelyn while having lunch at this amazing Greek restaurant. We walked around the neighborhood and even shopped a little at Buffalo Exchange. It was a nice change of pace from all the moving we'd done all week.
California for me was a possible glimpse into the future. I haven't told Armand this and I'm sure he will read this post when it comes out but I can truly see us out there in a few years. Getting back to the city and having all of its shit hit you like a ton of bricks made me think about it more. I stress more while here in NYC. As much as I love her she gives me anxiety. Time will tell if it'll happen but I'm a lot more open to the idea now that I've experienced it a bit.
