My Friday Kickoff
Woke up stupid early, threw my shades and sunscreen into a backpack. Hopped a morning flight feeling that LA energy already. First mission? Food. Drove straight to this taco spot I bookmarked months ago. Grabbed two carne asada tacos – messy, juicy, perfect. Sauce dripped on my shirt, didn’t care one bit.
Checked into my hotel near Santa Monica, dumped bags fast. Walked straight to the beach. Smelled that ocean air, felt the sun slap my skin. Saw the pier all colorful and loud. Stomped down those wooden planks, dodged a bunch of seagulls going nuts over someone’s fries. Rode that Ferris wheel – kinda wobbly, honestly – but damn, that view of the coast? Worth every shaky second.
- Got a parking ticket. Forgot to read some tiny sign. LA welcomes ya!
- Ate dinner at this retro diner. Burger was taller than my phone. Fries? Crispy gold.
- Crashed early. Jet lag hit like a truck.
Saturday Madness
Fueled up on stupidly expensive coffee. Needed it. Headed straight for the Hollywood madness. Walked the Walk of Fame – way more gum stuck on the ground than stars I actually recognized! Squeezed through crowds trying to snap pics of some handprints. Saw Spider-Man and Darth Vader arguing over tips. Only in LA, man.
Drove up to Griffith Observatory later. That traffic? Brutal. Crawled up that hill feeling like I’d never get there. Finally parked. Hiked up a dusty path – my cheap sneakers were NOT ready. Made it sweaty and slightly out of breath. But man, seeing that view of the city sprawled out with the Hollywood sign just poking through the smog? That’s the holy grail right there.
- Lunch was a hot dog from a cart. Questionable? Probably. Delicious? Absolutely.
- Tried to find a celeb. Saw someone who looked kinda famous. Maybe? Coulda just been a dude with good hair.
- Got stuck in Sunset Blvd traffic for an eternity. Damn Uber prices doubled.
Sunday Chill & Bail
Slept in a bit – felt like a luxury! Wandered around Venice Beach. Saw the skaters, the muscle guys, the weird art stalls. Bought a stupid fridge magnet shaped like a palm tree. Walked the canals behind the beach – way quieter. Admired those wild houses, wondered what the payments look like. (Ouch.) Grabbed my last LA burrito. Had to.
Finished it off with the Getty Center. Took that little tram thing up the hill. Got lost looking at fancy art I didn’t understand. Mostly just stared at the gardens and the views across the city. Perfect place to just sit and let the weekend sink in before heading back to the airport chaos.
- Panicked about gas prices filling the rental car.
- Almost missed my flight. Security line snaked forever.
- Got home exhausted. Thumbed through phone pics feeling satisfied. Bucket list LA? Checked!
Biggest takeaway? LA ain’t cheap, the crowds are nuts, and the traffic wants to eat your soul. But man, soaking up that sun, eating that food, seeing those icons? Pure fun. Pack comfy shoes, prepare your wallet, and just roll with the chaos. Would I do it again? Hell yeah.
