This is the 2nd of a series of posts dealing with
my fourth trip to South California. I’ve made minor corrections to these
reports. Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a ¾ year
later or to add further clarification.
These are indicated by “NOW”. After I booked the trip I unexpectedly had
to move and during that had an Eastern Canada trip that didn’t go that great,
so I was already pretty tired before the trip began.
A few things from yesterday I forgot: Earl's had
an electronic coaster that buzzed when your order is ready. Packed a smaller
pack which is a good thing because one of the straps on the backpack I bought
this month is about to snap off. One of the tires on my suitcase got squished
so now I have to make sure I carry it because the edge of the case where the
tires are is about to tear.
[NOW: By Earl's I meant Earl of Sandwich.]
New: turned in really early (about 7 pm) because I
was very tired. Sleep of past few days catching up. Some sort of festivities at night with rock
music. Not sure if from the hostel or nearby. Someone's cell phone alarm went
off around 4:30 am, which I'm a bit used to, only he kept hitting snooze so my
body eventually reached the point where it wasn't going to go back to sleep. He
finally got up but then a car alarm went off. Still, do seem more rested than
yesterday. Probably won't get back to sleep now so will head out soon. Today's
a low key day anyway. At least unless I pack more stuff in.
[NOW: The above was written in the morning at
Orange Mango Hostel. The rest was written in the evening.]
In short order I left Orange Mango Hostel in Santa
Ana, walked east along Garden Grove and Memory Lane (in Garden Grove municipality
then Orange), north along Bristol (for the rest of the time in Orange I was on
a futile search for an official map book), La Veta heading east, north on Main,
west on Chapman to McDonald's, then east passing the Orange Metrolink Station. I
thought I could visit the next town over, but even flying blind I realized that
was a bad idea at last and returned west. I took a 54 bus (Orange Country
Transportation Authority/OCTA), using a day of the 5-use pass and buying a
schedule for $1. I got off at Orange Metrolink Station and got a weekend
daypass.
[NOW: between Santa Ana and Garden Grove there is
another section where I was in Orange. I should have bought a multi-day pass
this day instead of the weekend pass because of how the timing worked out.]
I took the Orange County Line Metrolink train to LA
Union Station. It was a comfortable doubledecker train though the view can be
politely described as industrial for the most part. Despite being late and
having to stop at one point for rail traffic to clear it actually made it to
its terminus early. I got off at Union Station and took a Red Line subway train
to Wilshire/Vermont (all LA Metro subway/buses included in Metrolink fare; all
transit between Metrolink trips LA Metro).
[NOW: LA Union Station of course is in Los Angeles.
For some reason the subway electronic readers didn’t like my daypass.]
I took a westbound 720 bus. It took a couple of
stops before I could sit down. The ride was bumpy and the bus was tilting right
at times, thus making it a thrill ride in of itself. I somehow survived the bus
trip and got off near 3rd Street Promenade at Santa Monica. I visited an art
& architecture book store called Hennessy & Ingalls before returning to
the promenade, which is a pedestrian street with shops and street performers.
There were plant dinosaurs with fountains, though only the most northern
fountains were on. Since the dinosaurs had metal heads and water came out of
their mouths they looked like Godzilla foes. I visited Barnes & Noble and
McDonald's. I passed through a mall on the south end before heading to Santa
Monica Pier. At the entrance there were also
parrot family birds including a cockatiel.
Part of the pier is Pacific Park, an amusement park that is free to walk
thorough; pay by ride. Didn't go on any rides.
A couple of people were dressed as Mickey and Minnie. Definitely
unauthorized: they spoke and I think they had a place for money.
[NOW: Hennessy & Ingalls moved to Los Angeles. That Barnes & Noble closed. The mall is Santa Monica Place.]
I walked along Santa Monica Beach to the south end
then visited Angel City Books and Records. Crossing from Santa Monica to Venice
I saw the exterior of a building shaped like binoculars (looking down). I walked to Venice Beach and continued south,
most but not all the time sticking to the Boardwalk, which has permanent
buildings on the west of the boardwalk and temporary displays on the west (art
dealers et ). I saw a weightlifting area called Muscle Beach where Arnold
Schwarzenegger was discovered. I left Venice Beach and visited part of the
Venice Canals (It's Venice; of course there's canals).
[NOW: Venice is a section of Los Angeles.]
I took a 733 bus to downtown Los Angeles. I walked to the Toy District. Guide books
shouldn't even mention it: no toys, just a bunch of mostly closed down
buildings. Very run down. I walked through Little Tokyo and saw the Walt Disney
Concert Hall, and oddly shaped building not unlike Seattle's EMP Museum.
[NOW: Seattle's EMP Museum is now Museum of Pop Culture/MoPop.]
I was starting to cut it close so went to Civic
Center Station to enter the subway. Both this time and the previous time
security had to help as the turnstiles didn't recognizer my pass. Ironically
the security woman who helped me this time turned out to be there to check
people's fare. I took a Purple (I think; maybe Red) train to LA Union Station
and then dashed to the Orange County Line Metrolink train.
A woman said to another guard on her radio not to
let a guy on because he cussed and otherwise rude to her. The lesson here is
twofold: don't cuss at the Metrolink people and especially don't do so if it's
the last train of the day.
On the train a guy dropped off pens at people who
didn't seem focussed elsewhere like I was with photos and then soon returned to
collect donations or the pens back. I got off at Orange Station and took a 56
bus west to The City Dr just north of The Outlets at Orange. Not at the mall
proper but in part of the parking lot was a Carl’s Jr. where I had a really nice
burger. I then returned to the hostel a
lot more tanned than when I started out today.
[NOW: The 56 bus was OCTA. Again, Orange Mango is
in Santa Ana.]
No comments:
Post a Comment