LA
Trip Start
Feb 16, 2006
1
27
38
Trip End
Feb 16, 2009
Los Angeles,
United States
Thursday, June 29, 2006
We loaded my bags into the SUV and were soon cruising south through the smog (or mountain mist as the LA inhabitants like to call it) to Elizas house in the OC. Sam was still the same old Sam and his driving ability definitely hadn't improved since I last saw him. I assured him he would be guaranteed employment as a South America bus driver if he was ever short of cash and had a warrant out for his arrest.
Arriving at Elizas was fantastic and it was definitely a feeling of arriving home
4:30 in the morning hanging with the stars
. Everyone was much the same just a little older. You also know you are around good friends when you feel as though it was just yesterday when you last saw each other after just a few minutes of conversation. Griff was still a little energizer bunny and extremely amusing. Ethan the newest addition to the family was beautiful and so small. I quickly settled into a domestic life in the burbs and it was great I couldn't have asked for a better change of pace. Cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping and of course sitting in the pool or hot tub wasting away the day.
Living in Huntington Beach only minutes from the surf definitely made me a little regretful for selling my board. The surf however was flat most days or so I told myself to get by. The shopping was probably the worst thing about America. Everything is so cheap compared to Oz and the non existent spare room in my backpack was soon taken up by t-shirts and jumpers in preparation for the UK. The supermarkets were also fantastic, the yanks have so much junk to make things simple or more appealing its mind blowing. I mean you can buy a full hot dog bun and all which you just microwave then enjoy. There was choc chip cookie cereal which was literally small cookies which you cover in milk for breakfast. How nutritious. Of course I wanted to try it all but ran short on time. I'll be back!
While I was there one of Sams old friends was having a 5 day birthday bash in Hollywood and Bevery Hills. I of course invited myself along and had one hell of a time. The weekend turned out to be one of the biggest if not the biggest rock star events in my life to date
A few quiet beers in a pub in San Diego
. We caught the train to LA and settled into yet another hostel! in Hollywood. I had been to Hollywood before so the whole touristy thing wasn't al the exciting. What I didn't know was I was about to view Hollywood from the other side of the glass. Friday night Sam and I found ourselves being chauffeured around Bevery Hills with the rest of the party in a stretch black hummer. We hit a great club in the Hills with all expenses paid. The stocked VIP bar was far too appealing and before too long we were stumbling back into the limo also packed with grog :0( and onto the next club. The night ended in a blur and I soon found myself up waaay too early and on my way to salsa lessons! I had been in South America for nearly 5 months and didn't manage 1 salsa lesson. Now I was tired, smelly hung over, in LA and strapping on my dancing boots. The idea behind the lesson was that we were heading to a Salsa bar for the evenings entertainment and were expected to dance. Ahhhh. After 10 minutes of stepping on toes and sweating like a donkey in the desert I was ready to rock.
Again we were chauffeured around in another stretch hummer through Hollywood to this amazing salsa club with a massive live band. After a few drinks I finally hit the floor in my spandex outfit to strut my stuff with the best of them. Pretty sure I broke a toe or two but I had a great time flinging people left right and center
A little dark but still hanging with the stars
. I arrived back in the Hostel at around 3 very intoxicated and full of great ideas. I headed upstairs to the Hostel bar to drink until sun up with a comedian and some kid from Canada. Feeling very worse for wear the next day Sam and I made our way to the W Hotel in Beverly where a few of the girls were staying. We spent a few hours by the pool recovering and trying to put the pieces of the night together. What a weekend time to head back to the burbs to detox.Over all my time in LA was amazing and I really could have stayed for months if not longer. Sam kept me going most days and we had a great time just kicking it. Eliza and Rob made me feel more than welcome and it was so great to be able to hang out and make up for lost time. It was a hard time for all with the new bub and Rob being very busy with work but I loved every minute of it. So thanks for having my guys hopefully it wont be as long till we can catch up again.
Time for a slice of the big apple...
