Our last and final day in Los Angeles was an emotional one. Although the tears in my eyes may have been a product of the thick smog that seemed to follow us everywhere, I was still visibly sad to leave. We had such a great time meeting new people, hanging out with Angelians, seeing the sights, and reconnecting with old friends and lost loves. My sincere thank you to those who took us around and gave us the insider's perspective on what to do and what to avoid like the plague (or maybe more appropriately, swine flu).
The 31st day of our vacation and ambitious adventure to find work in L.A. was not filled with sight-seeing, fancy dinners or mingling with the locals. Rather, we found ourselves furiously cleaning what was left to be cleaned, so as to leave the place in exactly the same order as we found it. In fact, we made it a goal to leave it in BETTER condition than when we arrived, and I think we may have succeeded (yeah, I scrubbed that kitchen counter so hard, it sparkles in appreciation when I pass by).
After my love affair with the kitchen counter, we packed our belongings, made peace with the cat (I'll miss you most of all Bitty), and we took one last deep breath of smoggy air for the road (Seriously though, this city was just deemed the most polluted in the world. I wonder if Chernobyl came in a close second?) Then we bolted out of there faster than a cat's meow. And we were immediately delayed by L.A. traffic. Much like how we arrived, the City of Angels felt we couldn't truly experience its glory without a grueling ride through aggravating, mind numbing, fist waving, traffic. Yes, L.A., you get the last laugh. You win. You win...
We learned a lot about Los Angeles in the short time we spent there. Gang members are not falling out of palm trees. You don't see famous people on every corner. Korean food IS good. Mexican food IS everywhere. UCLA and USC are very different. The Hollywood sign isn't so amazing. There IS a metro in L.A... kinda. Traffic accidents are considered natural disasters. Actors are people too. And there's something interesting to do, any time of day or night, somewhere in this giant city.
So I bid you Adieu, the City of a Thousand Names. Lalaland. Southland. Lotusville. El Pueblo. Hollywood. Ho-town. Tinsel-town. Ok, that's a handful of them. But I'm sure there's more. Like a recently estranged lover, we know you're no good for us, but we'll soon be crawling back on our knees, begging you to take us back.
You're a beautiful and hideous city, that's for sure.
With Love,
Jeff and Erin
