Los Angeles - December 31 - January 6, 2018

Painting on the Parrot - Old Los Angeles Zoo

For winter vacation 2017, I decided to visit my brother, Lars, in Los Angeles. I needed to dry out.

The trip started in a stressful way after Anders dropped me off for the seven o’clock ferry boat leaving Whidbey Island. I quickly became aware that it didn’t run on weekends. Rocky start. The bus that I wanted to catch would be long gone before I arrived in Mukilteo.

While waiting on the 7:30 ferry boat, I called a cab. Catching it to Lynnwood Park and Ride set me back thirty dollars, but I was able to board my connecting bus to King Street Station and the Amtrak Coast Starlight.

Sleeping Spot - Amtrak Coast Starlight

Train in View - Amtrak Coast Starlight

Long train rides are a form of transportation that I actively seek out. From conversations in the dining car to the challenge of finding a restful sleeping situation (while paying for a coach ticket), the rails have it all. One highlight was listening to the life story of a former carnival employee. Several times he stated, “I don’t play!” when speaking openly about those who had crossed him. I made a conscious effort to send good vibrations.

PodShare Reflection

Treewig - PodShare

My Spot - PodShare

After arriving just a touch late at Union Station in Los Angeles, I walked to PodShare, an open hostel service located approximately fifteen minutes, by foot, from the station. The price was right and the accommodations interesting. By eleven o’clock, I had ascended to my bed.

Getting Creative - Grand Park

Pools and Buildings - Grand Park

On Tuesday, I settled in at Grand Park for several hours, enjoying the sun and the fourth book in the Dune series (God Emperor of Dune). I met a homeless man named Raz, who was about my age; we went to dinner at a restaurant in Korea Town. I very quickly recognized Raz’s kind heart, but his frequent and prolonged stays in the restroom prompted me to ponder the possibilities in such a small space.

Overlooking - The Last Bookstore

Fiction Tunnel - The Last Bookstore

Decorative Type - The Last Bookstore

After stopping by the Korea Town Public Library and The Last Bookstore, I met Lars at “The Little Easy,” a bar close to his apartment. I found the French influence interesting, albeit a little overdone.

I spent the rest of the week hanging with my brother. On Wednesday, after picking up a picture Lars had framed, we walked through the heart of skid row on our way back to his place. The living situation there is shocking in the extreme. How can the local people help those who don’t fit this system?

Entrance - Grand Central Market

Lakers Pregame - Staples Center

Remembering the Great - Staples Center

In the evening, we took in a Lakers game at the Staples Center where the young team was dominated by the Oklahoma City Thunder, quashing my desire to purchase a T-shirt.

On Thursday, while visiting the remains of the Old Los Angeles Zoo, I looked on as Lars wheat pasted a parrot to one of the old cages. I will not soon forget the light in a young teenager’s eyes as she saw his process.

Upset with the President - Old Los Angeles Zoo

Going Back to Nature - Old Los Angeles Zoo

Later, at Griffith Park, I consumed a vanilla ice cream bar before we boarded a merry-go-round from the 1920’s. According to the placard, Walt Disney found inspiration on the back of one of the stallions. I rode the dark horse and became slightly ill.

Going solo on Friday, I took the Metro out to Santa Monica for a saunter on the beach. From the pier, I walked north to the lifeguard headquarters along the shoreline, taking in the view and wondering about the shorebirds and life, in general. Near the pier, I cleaned my feet with my socks before putting a fork to banana cheesecake and hopping the Metro to LA.

Evidence - Santa Monica

Life at the Transition - Santa Monica

Later that evening, we met up with his friend Sam in the Silverwood area. I found it enjoyable conversing about science fiction stories of all kinds. I enjoyed Sam’s perspective and mannerisms.

It was easy getting around the city using a combination of the light rail Metro system, Lyft/Uber and my feet. It’s difficult to understand why LA residents own cars.

The following is a breakdown of my trip back to Whidbey Island:

From Lars’ place, I took the Metro light rail to Union Station ($1.75), hopped the FlyAway bus to LAX airport ($9.75), flew on Alaska Airlines to Sea-Tac airport ($104), boarded the Link light rail to Seattle’s International District ($3.00), caught the 512 Sound Transit express bus to Lynnwood Transit Center ($3.75), transferred to Community Transit route 113 to Mukilteo ($2.25), sailed to Clinton on the Washington State Ferry ($5.05) and was kindly given a ride home by my friend Craig Stelling.

I’m very much looking forward to visiting Los Angeles in the near future, particularly in the winter months.

Lars' Place - Downtown Los Angeles