[	mood	|	busy	]
[	music	|	C89.5	]

Review of my trip to Cali with mom and dad, July 11-16:

ARRIVAL/NIGHT 1 - Got to the airport around 8:30 Tuesday morning.  I had been at Sea-Tac once many years ago when we picked up a relative, but this was my first real experience at an airport.  It was rather spacious and we got through to the gate pretty quick and smoothly.  Plane took off about 10:00.  After we got through liftoff and started cruising, I got more comfortable and realized I had nothing to worry about.  As we got closer and closer to downtown Los Angeles, I eagerly stared out at the endless California land -- and the very smoggy atmosphere. -_-  Unboarded right around 12:30.  I quickly noticed how different things were at LAX -- Bigger, more people and less room.   We got on a shuttle to pick up a rental car and after getting one, drove around to the Magic Castle Hotel.  Along the way, I noticed several things: Lots of trash along the side of the road, blue instead of green street signs, some very tall palm trees and McDonald's and Burger King at seemingly every corner.  One thing that looked familiar was various construction in places around town, just like home.  My parents, meanwhile, kept an eye out for Jewish places and sure enough we saw some temples and bakeries.  Got to the hotel about 2:00 and got settled.  Walked around Hollywood & Highland for awhile, passed by the Kodak Theatre and had lunch at Johnny Rockets.  Later, we had dinner at a Jewish all-dairy restaurant called the Milky Way and met Steven Spielberg’s mother (who owns the place).  Soon after, we stopped by my sisters apartment for a little bit.  And I brought along my Nintendo DS and a Calvin & Hobbes book to keep me occupied at night before bed during the trip.

DAY 1 - Got up after 8:00 and got some breakfast that the hotel offers for free.  At 10:30 we walked over to take the subway and noticed a fenced-off red carpet and security everywhere.  What was going on, we wondered, as we took the subway to Universal City.  Once there, we took a shuttle to Universal Studios!  For awhile we walked around CityWalk and eventually made our way to the amusement park.  As expected, the Studio Tour was the absolute best! ^_^  Saw actual movie set from "War Of The Worlds," met King Kong and Jaws, saw cars from various movies (including my favorite -- all 3 "Back To The Future" films), passed by a set used for "Desperate Housewives" and more.  The Special Effects stages were also cool.  Headed back to the Hotel after 5:00 and the red carpet was still there and still empty, except for security.  Turns out the ESPN ESPY awards were filmed while we were out and we literally just missed the action.  Back at the hotel, I jumped in the pool for awhile.  It had been so freakin' long that I practically forgot how to swim, making it feel bit awkward.  Soon, we went to another Jewish restaurant that specializes in meat dishes (You won't find these places anywhere else, which is why my parents planned ahead to go to them).  After dinner, we stopped by a grocery store for a few things.  It had been awhile since I was in a grocer other than WFM.  Everything looked so good and I just wanted to get the hell outta there. >_>

DAY 2 - Got up after 8:00, got breakfast and got going at 10:00 for Disneyland in Anaheim.  After a car ride that lasted over an hour (thanks to a wrong turn), we arrived at "The Happiest Place On Earth."  But was it really?  We were about to find out.  I had a lot of fun walking around the different Lands and checking out the shops.  Got to have my pic taken with Goofy and of course Mickey (after standing in a very long line that stretched through his "house").  Another thing that was very cool was learning the history of the Park and seeing film and pics from its development in the '50s.  Didn't see Minnie, Donald or Chip n' Dale, but we did spot characters from Alice in Wonderland (on a dance floor of all places) while we ate lunch at the hoppin' Club Buzz.  I wanted to go on the Space Mountian ride (per the suggestions from people at work), but it was booked for a few hours.  We didn't quite get around the entire park, but it's all the more reason to come back again someday, which I undoubtenly plan to.  I ended up getting a cap, self name keychain, refridgerator magnet, small snowglob, a frame for my professional photo taken with Mickey and a very nice statue figurine of him.  We got lost coming home trying to read the directions backwards and didn't get back to the hotel until 9:00.  Although it was a day I'll never forget, I wanted to forget the obnoxiously long car rides.  And yeah, Disneyland is indeed "The Happiest Place on Earth." ^_^

DAY 3 - Got up around 8:30, had breakfast and went in the pool while mom and dad checked out a Jewish bakery.  After 12:00 we went out to Venice Beach in Santa Monica.  Mostly explored the boardwalk and strolled past the shops and people selling all sorts of arts, crafts, paintings, palm readings, etc.  Dad bought a heavy handmade turtle statue.  On the way back, we stopped by the Fairfax Whole Foods Market for a quick look-see.  And yeah -- what I saw looked pretty familiar just with a different layout -- and no cafe.  Later, we had a makeshift Friday night Sabbath dinner with what mom and dad picked up at the bakery -- a couple things you CAN'T get in the Northwest.  Afterwards, I hung out with my sister and her friend at The Grove (a promenade that's more popular than even Disneyland).  We tried to get into a movie, but they were full, so we ended up stopping for ice cream and then Blockbuster and finally my sisters apartment.

DAY 4 - Got up around 8:30 and pretty much hung out at the hotel awhile.  After 11:00 we went out for a walk around the Hollywood Walk-Of-Fame.  Didn't see the whole thing, but I got pics with a few I liked.  Afterwards, pretty much hung out at the pool and got some sun.  Later, we stopped at the West Hollywood WFM to get lunch.  Definitely was smaller than my store and the cashier obviously didn't care what store I was from when I gave him my card.  After lunch, we drove around the amazing Hollywood Hills and at last found the Hollywood sign.  Came back to the hotel and killed time.  At 8:00 we went out to dinner with my sister and 2 of her friends at Dolce Enoteca -- a very hip restaurant owned by Ashton Kutcher and other "That '70s Show" cast.  It was so dark I wouldn't know a star was there if I saw one.

HEADING HOME - Checked out just after 11:00 Sunday morning and headed to the airport for our 1:48 flight.  We got through to bag check and security rather quickly, but that's when it became clear things were run a lot tighter here than Sea-Tac.  To make matters worse, my dads turtle showed up as blank in the x-ray and tested as an explosive.  The carry-on bag it was in had to be emptied, searched and wipe samples were taken.  We were OK to go after they concluded it wasn't anything explosive and my dad was padded down. >_<

From beginning to end, it was a great adventure and I'm already thinking of next time.

The pics above and a few more can all be found on my website.