Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Milan in August
Been back for a while now and haven't updated since. Things have been good. After a brief test with an animation studio who couldn't offer me anything I got moving on working on the new short film that I want to submit to festivals this coming year. It's going great. I've finished the script, storyboards, and animatic in a very short 12 days. I've also enlisted help from a fantastic character designer named Lorenzo Milito and gotten Kosta to give me a few concept sketches. I'm currently working on building up the set and getting props ready. I'm going to need character modellers cause I'm not strong with organic modelling, but I've been studying systems for rigging and hair. I couldn't be happier about how it's going.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
AM BBQ 2009
My feet hurt all night. I put on my sneakers, but they don't help too much. After some research it's off to Haight-Ashbury on the bus. I'm still not inamoured with San Francisco and the bus trip doesn't convince me that I'm wrong. So far I haven't seen a part of the city I like or had an experience here I can relate to – I mean, aside fromt he AM stuff. We get to the Haight and have breakfast and walk around a while. I don't see much of the hippy culture that made the place famous but there were a few weirdy-looking big-pupiled guys in the coffee shop. They seemed to be familiar with the thoughts of Timothy Leary. No flower children about though.
We wait a while for the bus to take us to Chrissy Field and instead take a taxi when it doesn't come. I'm impressed by the last part of the ride when we're about to arrive cause it's basically like driving off a cliff into a park that ends at the ocean.
Registered at the BBQ I'm a little ovewhelmed as I look around. There are so many people. The next 5 hours go by in a blur of conversationing and joking around and chatting and eating hot dogs and burgers. I never do get to fly the kite I bought on the coast on the way up cause I forget, and I realise later that my scalp is burnt, but I also get to make contacts which I'm definately going to follow up, and generally just had a really really wonderful time.
Fabri and I walk all the way through Chrissy Field back towards Fisherman's Wharf and come across a few San Fran jewels. First, there's the guys kite and windsurfing. And I can see the possibility of rekindling my passion for watersports. Then we wander into a neighborhood which is so beautiful I can consider moving to this part of the world (... finances permitting... it seems like a pretty swish part of town).
We decide to stop for a glass of wine and try 2 types of Zinfandel, then move across the street to a chinese restaurant. I over order, but the food it good if a little too spicy. I want to try to make it to the AM gathering tonight but have to be honest with myself after we finish that I'm just too tired. It's been a crazy few weeks, and tomorrow we have the flight home.
Anyhow, that crews' all invited to stop by the next time they're in Milan.
We wait a while for the bus to take us to Chrissy Field and instead take a taxi when it doesn't come. I'm impressed by the last part of the ride when we're about to arrive cause it's basically like driving off a cliff into a park that ends at the ocean.
Registered at the BBQ I'm a little ovewhelmed as I look around. There are so many people. The next 5 hours go by in a blur of conversationing and joking around and chatting and eating hot dogs and burgers. I never do get to fly the kite I bought on the coast on the way up cause I forget, and I realise later that my scalp is burnt, but I also get to make contacts which I'm definately going to follow up, and generally just had a really really wonderful time.
Fabri and I walk all the way through Chrissy Field back towards Fisherman's Wharf and come across a few San Fran jewels. First, there's the guys kite and windsurfing. And I can see the possibility of rekindling my passion for watersports. Then we wander into a neighborhood which is so beautiful I can consider moving to this part of the world (... finances permitting... it seems like a pretty swish part of town).
We decide to stop for a glass of wine and try 2 types of Zinfandel, then move across the street to a chinese restaurant. I over order, but the food it good if a little too spicy. I want to try to make it to the AM gathering tonight but have to be honest with myself after we finish that I'm just too tired. It's been a crazy few weeks, and tomorrow we have the flight home.
Anyhow, that crews' all invited to stop by the next time they're in Milan.
July 11th - Grad in San Fran
Graduation day. I get up and spend a while being anxious and getting ready. I get into my dress and heels. With the help of a local (and we already know what the neighbourhood is like where we're staying) we get to the bus stop that takes us over to the waterfront where the ceremony is being held. It's 12:30 and there's a mandatory rehearsal for me.
I'm a little late so I get into the hall and struggle to find my name on the seats. It's alphabetical by first name and I find it in the end next to JJ Pastor, who I shared a few classes with, I think class 5 Pre-Production and 6 Short Film Production. We joke around for a while cause we're both up for student choice awards. I convince him that he's going to win his category because he got a mail requesting photos and I hadn't. He becomes nervous and we have a bit of fun with that.
The ceremony is brilliant. Shawn, Carlos and Bobby all top one another with their entrances. It's great to see them in person even if I had a chance to chat with Bobby yesterday. They're on form and in their element. They're really the same as you always see them in the lectures or in the video news. It's great.
The speeches are all touching. I tear up a little bit. There's alot of talk about dreams coming true and community and supporting one another. It's refeshing cause since ending class 5 and maybe Annecy I haven't really felt like part of something. Like a something. And everyone talking made me remember that I really am. On top of the AM someting, there's the bigger something of being part of my own goals and dreams. It's a concept I haven't quite got set in concrete yet, verbally, but it sure makes sense to me.
JJ doesn't win most supportive student, and I don't win most improved student, but ironically JJ does win the mentor's choice award so his relief was short lived and he had to make a speech anyhow. He he he.
Saw some of the guys from Annecy on the big screen saying they were sorry to not make it to grad. It was cool to think about the European crew back home... and on that I also got to meet the Italian boys from the course. Tommasso never made it though... hmmm.
The reception was really cool. I had the opportunity to chat with Shawn and Bobby, I finally met Dana Boadway and her hubby, and generally networked and socialised for 4 hours. I didn't eat much but it was too exciting going around and finally meeting everyone face to face that I'donly previously seen online. Everyone was so nice and chill and cool and full of great energy!
The after party was at an Irish pub and didn't start till 9 so Fabri and I went to the neighborhood it was in and looked for restaurants nearby. We settled on an italian place (Maccaroni, the name of the short film I almost made) and talk Italian with the waiters and host and so get preferential treatment. The food is really really good... and it's the first time in a month I've eaten pasta that hasn't been overcooked. We spill a glass of wine and the waiter brings us a new one. Tthat's a nice thing about being in NA.
After dinner we still have a bit of time so we wander around a bit. On the other corner is the Church of Scientology so we go in and get recruited... no no, just kidding. Outside there are a bunch of guys in creepy V for vendetta masks and we take some photos. They're protesting scientology and calling it a cult. Then we go over and I spend a few minutes talking to one of them, asking what they're doing and why they're in masks and stuff. He tells me that if their faces were uncovered they'd be in danger of retribution from the members inside. I ask if I'm okay for not having a mask and he says 'you should be'. I still don't understand exactly why they're there every Saturday night but I believe they believe that there's a reason to be there.
Inside the pub I spot some AM t-shirts and head over to chat with them. Alessandro is already in the pub as well having dinner with his friend. I talk to everyone for a while and then we head downstairs to where the official party is going on. More AM people are down there and I get introduced to Kenny and Keith, 2 mentors at AM I never had. There's a mutual embarrassing moment when Kenny and I decide to sit on the sofa and are simultaneously SWALLOWED by the worn out piece of furniture.
I spend the rest of the night talking junk. I tell a bunch of people the long version of why I moved to europe (yes, the one with the pinball machine), but mostly stick to the short version. I dance alot and am enthralled by Doug from class 12 who's a brilliant dancer and makes the night so fun for the rest of us. There's a moment when I'm talking with Alex, Ben and Leslie during a Michael Jackson song and I freak out and all my feelings on the whole MJ issue come out turret-syndrome like in a string of repetitive profanity. Luckily the Billie-Jean-Thriller-ABC medley is up loud enough to drown it out besides my immediate neighbours. Ben lables me officially insane.
Half the crowd disappears and is replaced by a younger more cheerleadery and gangsta group, as well as batchlorette partys and Irish twins. It's time to go soI head back to the hotel at 1am, and all my stress about not being able to find a taxi was completely ill-founded. I could have relaxed and enjoyed alot more, but still it was a great great time.
I'm a little late so I get into the hall and struggle to find my name on the seats. It's alphabetical by first name and I find it in the end next to JJ Pastor, who I shared a few classes with, I think class 5 Pre-Production and 6 Short Film Production. We joke around for a while cause we're both up for student choice awards. I convince him that he's going to win his category because he got a mail requesting photos and I hadn't. He becomes nervous and we have a bit of fun with that.
The ceremony is brilliant. Shawn, Carlos and Bobby all top one another with their entrances. It's great to see them in person even if I had a chance to chat with Bobby yesterday. They're on form and in their element. They're really the same as you always see them in the lectures or in the video news. It's great.
The speeches are all touching. I tear up a little bit. There's alot of talk about dreams coming true and community and supporting one another. It's refeshing cause since ending class 5 and maybe Annecy I haven't really felt like part of something. Like a something. And everyone talking made me remember that I really am. On top of the AM someting, there's the bigger something of being part of my own goals and dreams. It's a concept I haven't quite got set in concrete yet, verbally, but it sure makes sense to me.
JJ doesn't win most supportive student, and I don't win most improved student, but ironically JJ does win the mentor's choice award so his relief was short lived and he had to make a speech anyhow. He he he.
Saw some of the guys from Annecy on the big screen saying they were sorry to not make it to grad. It was cool to think about the European crew back home... and on that I also got to meet the Italian boys from the course. Tommasso never made it though... hmmm.
The reception was really cool. I had the opportunity to chat with Shawn and Bobby, I finally met Dana Boadway and her hubby, and generally networked and socialised for 4 hours. I didn't eat much but it was too exciting going around and finally meeting everyone face to face that I'donly previously seen online. Everyone was so nice and chill and cool and full of great energy!
The after party was at an Irish pub and didn't start till 9 so Fabri and I went to the neighborhood it was in and looked for restaurants nearby. We settled on an italian place (Maccaroni, the name of the short film I almost made) and talk Italian with the waiters and host and so get preferential treatment. The food is really really good... and it's the first time in a month I've eaten pasta that hasn't been overcooked. We spill a glass of wine and the waiter brings us a new one. Tthat's a nice thing about being in NA.
After dinner we still have a bit of time so we wander around a bit. On the other corner is the Church of Scientology so we go in and get recruited... no no, just kidding. Outside there are a bunch of guys in creepy V for vendetta masks and we take some photos. They're protesting scientology and calling it a cult. Then we go over and I spend a few minutes talking to one of them, asking what they're doing and why they're in masks and stuff. He tells me that if their faces were uncovered they'd be in danger of retribution from the members inside. I ask if I'm okay for not having a mask and he says 'you should be'. I still don't understand exactly why they're there every Saturday night but I believe they believe that there's a reason to be there.
Inside the pub I spot some AM t-shirts and head over to chat with them. Alessandro is already in the pub as well having dinner with his friend. I talk to everyone for a while and then we head downstairs to where the official party is going on. More AM people are down there and I get introduced to Kenny and Keith, 2 mentors at AM I never had. There's a mutual embarrassing moment when Kenny and I decide to sit on the sofa and are simultaneously SWALLOWED by the worn out piece of furniture.
I spend the rest of the night talking junk. I tell a bunch of people the long version of why I moved to europe (yes, the one with the pinball machine), but mostly stick to the short version. I dance alot and am enthralled by Doug from class 12 who's a brilliant dancer and makes the night so fun for the rest of us. There's a moment when I'm talking with Alex, Ben and Leslie during a Michael Jackson song and I freak out and all my feelings on the whole MJ issue come out turret-syndrome like in a string of repetitive profanity. Luckily the Billie-Jean-Thriller-ABC medley is up loud enough to drown it out besides my immediate neighbours. Ben lables me officially insane.
Half the crowd disappears and is replaced by a younger more cheerleadery and gangsta group, as well as batchlorette partys and Irish twins. It's time to go soI head back to the hotel at 1am, and all my stress about not being able to find a taxi was completely ill-founded. I could have relaxed and enjoyed alot more, but still it was a great great time.
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 10th, Job Fair and Day one San Fran
Awake after a cold night of tossing and turning. Not the best sleep to have before meeting execs and recruitment agents from all the big local and LA studios. I look like junk in the mirror and have aged 20 years overnight. I hope the interviews are brief.
We head out to retrun the car and drive with no problems (thank you navingator!!) to the Hertz office and are met, as expected, by simple rudeness, ignorance and stupidity. Fortunately, there's no thievery this time and we seem to manage to pay the quote from the beginning of the rental. They don't even question the 'maintenece required' light that's been on for the past 4 days. I'm not sure, but it's possible that Hertz might be the worst possible rental agent. I never rented a cross-country car before, so I can't be sure, but it's possible.
We stop at a diner for breakfast and I have the 2 eggs bacon jobby again. There's much map scrutiny and analysis and we decide to head towards the financial district and figure out how to get the subway to Emmerdale for the job fair. When we find out that the subway costs 6 dollars per person and look at the clock the navigator gets asked directions on foot to get over the bridge. There's 2 hours to spare afterall. Watching the seagulls dive in and out of the bay we wait for the calculation... final verdict 9 hours. Turns out you can't walk to Emmeryville using a bridge.
The BART subway is nice. I'm taken aback by all the carpeting and upholstery, cause everyone know's that's just not sanitary, but people seem decent and polite and commuting in a civilized manner. When we arrive on the other end I eavesdrop on a conversation between 2 tech guys for games companies and I laugh to myself. California.
Get to the AM headquarters and fill out my first of 20 nametags for the week. Start the office tour, but am too distracted to follow it properly. The headquarters seem like a very cool place to work and be. All of the staff are super friendly and nice and I get to meet a load of people I'm only until now seen on the internet. I also watch people play guitar hero and for the first time ever am not deafened by thoughts that it's a generation-ruining passtime. I am very impressed by the scores that people get up to. Saw a guy sing at 100% to Billy Idol's White Wedding.
During the break we head over to a food court for lunch and I can't, of 23069 options choose something. It all looks gross. We settle on the most restauranty of the bunch and I have muscles and clams in a coconut sauce.
At the hotel I chat with a few people and then plonk myself into line with the others. The truth is my heart's not in the interviewing process, but I'm having a GREAT time chatting with the people I'm waiting with. It's a little like the x-AMers from Annecy, everyone's up and excited and on form. There's humour everywhere. I drop my reel in a load of boxes and shake a whole bunch of hands.
Exhausted so it's back to the hotel for a bit of a lie down and then off to explore San Francisco. We walk for a little while before lining up for a tram to 'don't know where'. It's an experience. At first we're inside but the conductor teels us to get off and walk around... there are 2 spots on the other side. The spots are hanging off a 4 inch platform up 85° inclines and decents. It was crazy! Scary. A clichè, but in a good way. The tram takes us to Fisherman's wharf where we wander and then explore a bit. I'm still super tired, but keep going. Just when we decide to go home I convince Fabri we should hop on another tram that goes 'we don't know where'. It takes us to a nice area where we look for a vietnamese restsurant owned by Don Johnson. We can't find it but do find a wine bar and taste a load of wines. Then we get to the restaurant (at 8:30pm) and the bouncer (why does a restaurant have a bouncer??) tells us the kitchen is closed. Turns out we're not cool enough to eat there, but the good news is we go to a fish restauraunt instead and have the most beautiful view of the bay and golden gate bridge during our meal. Maybe one of the best views of the whole trip. And the food is great.
We get another tram on the way back but get off the wrong stop and walk through one of the worst neighborhoods in San Francisco. I walked the whole way back to the hotel with a yard between my feet and my arms bent up at the elbows like they taught me in the self defense classes I took in the spring. Sure I looked really stupid, but if anyone wanted to mess with me they'd for sure think twice!
We head out to retrun the car and drive with no problems (thank you navingator!!) to the Hertz office and are met, as expected, by simple rudeness, ignorance and stupidity. Fortunately, there's no thievery this time and we seem to manage to pay the quote from the beginning of the rental. They don't even question the 'maintenece required' light that's been on for the past 4 days. I'm not sure, but it's possible that Hertz might be the worst possible rental agent. I never rented a cross-country car before, so I can't be sure, but it's possible.
We stop at a diner for breakfast and I have the 2 eggs bacon jobby again. There's much map scrutiny and analysis and we decide to head towards the financial district and figure out how to get the subway to Emmerdale for the job fair. When we find out that the subway costs 6 dollars per person and look at the clock the navigator gets asked directions on foot to get over the bridge. There's 2 hours to spare afterall. Watching the seagulls dive in and out of the bay we wait for the calculation... final verdict 9 hours. Turns out you can't walk to Emmeryville using a bridge.
The BART subway is nice. I'm taken aback by all the carpeting and upholstery, cause everyone know's that's just not sanitary, but people seem decent and polite and commuting in a civilized manner. When we arrive on the other end I eavesdrop on a conversation between 2 tech guys for games companies and I laugh to myself. California.
Get to the AM headquarters and fill out my first of 20 nametags for the week. Start the office tour, but am too distracted to follow it properly. The headquarters seem like a very cool place to work and be. All of the staff are super friendly and nice and I get to meet a load of people I'm only until now seen on the internet. I also watch people play guitar hero and for the first time ever am not deafened by thoughts that it's a generation-ruining passtime. I am very impressed by the scores that people get up to. Saw a guy sing at 100% to Billy Idol's White Wedding.
During the break we head over to a food court for lunch and I can't, of 23069 options choose something. It all looks gross. We settle on the most restauranty of the bunch and I have muscles and clams in a coconut sauce.
At the hotel I chat with a few people and then plonk myself into line with the others. The truth is my heart's not in the interviewing process, but I'm having a GREAT time chatting with the people I'm waiting with. It's a little like the x-AMers from Annecy, everyone's up and excited and on form. There's humour everywhere. I drop my reel in a load of boxes and shake a whole bunch of hands.
Exhausted so it's back to the hotel for a bit of a lie down and then off to explore San Francisco. We walk for a little while before lining up for a tram to 'don't know where'. It's an experience. At first we're inside but the conductor teels us to get off and walk around... there are 2 spots on the other side. The spots are hanging off a 4 inch platform up 85° inclines and decents. It was crazy! Scary. A clichè, but in a good way. The tram takes us to Fisherman's wharf where we wander and then explore a bit. I'm still super tired, but keep going. Just when we decide to go home I convince Fabri we should hop on another tram that goes 'we don't know where'. It takes us to a nice area where we look for a vietnamese restsurant owned by Don Johnson. We can't find it but do find a wine bar and taste a load of wines. Then we get to the restaurant (at 8:30pm) and the bouncer (why does a restaurant have a bouncer??) tells us the kitchen is closed. Turns out we're not cool enough to eat there, but the good news is we go to a fish restauraunt instead and have the most beautiful view of the bay and golden gate bridge during our meal. Maybe one of the best views of the whole trip. And the food is great.
We get another tram on the way back but get off the wrong stop and walk through one of the worst neighborhoods in San Francisco. I walked the whole way back to the hotel with a yard between my feet and my arms bent up at the elbows like they taught me in the self defense classes I took in the spring. Sure I looked really stupid, but if anyone wanted to mess with me they'd for sure think twice!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
July 9th - Pismo Beach to San Francisco via Big Sur
Back in the pool this morning, first thing. Boy is it COLD. Grey and cold. But the water's warm and I have someone to pass me the towel. All this of course after a bagel and coffeee breakfast overlooking the pacific of course. 10 min in the pool and 20n in the hot tub and I think to myself how lucky I am.
Driving driving. First we stop at San Luis Obispo and have a look at some shops and bubblegum alley (an alley where there's billions of sticks of bubblegum chewed and stuck to the walls on either side... enough to make you sick even if you do like a bit of hubba bubba). Then at the Madonna hotel which has all different themed rooms and a crazy fuscia dining hall that would be perfect for Barbie's wedding reception if what they say about Ken is true!
Next stop was adorable Morrow Bay... which was a cute cute little fishing town, but I refused to eat lunch so early.... which I paid for because we didn't stop for lunch until 4pm in Big Sur, with the most beautiful restaurant view of the whole trip on a cliff overlooking the ocean and the rolling hills behind it. Made that turkey sandwich scrumptious I tell you! And 7 dollars for fries didn't even seem that crazy!
Keep on keeping on to Carmel-by-the-Sea where we hop out just to feel the sand in our toes and Monterey for a coffe... then Santa Cruz only to decide not to stop cause we can't find parking. It's clear we're over tired now and it's time to find the hotel. But first, a trip across the Golden Gate bridge when we get to SF. Of course it needs to be done before we return the car tomorrow! It's late and the bridge is amazing, but it's also very, very, VERY, cold out. Winter cold. Wind cold. It's unbelievable after the heat in Vegas but we're suffering. We get to the hotel, who doesn't have the reservation, clarify things, and go to sleep.
TRAVEL
Pismo Beach to San Francisco via Big Sur
MapBig
Pismo Beach to San Francisco via Big Sur
MapBig
ACCOMMODATION
Good Hotel San Francisco
112 Seventh Street
Boasting an exceptional location in San Francisco's SoMa district, minutes from Union Square, this unique, environmentally friendly hotel blends state-of-the-art amenities along with creative furnishings made from recycled products.
The Good Hotel is only moments from the Westfield Shopping Centre, the Moscone Convention Center and the Asian Art Museum. Many of San Francisco's most famous sites, including Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square, are also easily accessible with nearby public transportation.
In addition to vending machines in the lobby selling environmentally friendly wallets, guests at Good Hotel can enjoy in-room iPod docking stations as well as flat-screen TVs. The hotel also features a delicious on-site restaurant, serving artisan thin-crust pizza made with only fresh and local ingredients.
Restaurant, All Public and Private spaces non-smoking.
Outdoor Swimming Pool.
Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel and is free of charge.
Public parking is possible on site and costs USD 20.00 per day.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Deer
Having grown up in Canada, and having my birthday in the middle of the summer, and often having been in the middle of the forest in the middle of the summer, I often had close encounters with deer on or around my birthday. This trip proves no different except that it seems that I do not need to actually be in the middle of the forest at all for these encounters to take place. I just need to be in anyplace where there might be deer.
These were by the side of the road in a residential neighborhood on the very west coast of California. They weren't spooked by the car and just seemed to be hanging out. I have better photos on the other camera, but this was just to give you the idea.
I'm always taken aback when I see deer. Maybe it's because of how much i cried when I first saw Bambi, or maybe it's just cause they emit a sense of complete peace with everything (unless they're fighting... then watch out!) But most of all, maybe it's because with what I know about the world, when you see them you realise how completely fragile everything really is. Maybe that knowledge started with Bambi too.
Anyhow, I'm glad I live in a world and a time when there are deer. And I'm glad that every once in a while someone decides that our paths should cross in some brief moments. It's the best birthday present of all.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
July 8th - Los Angeles to Pismo Beach via Santa Barbara
We wake up and get ready to leave the hotel without too much stress. We start driving North West and stop to take photos at a drive in movie theatre. Then we stop in Santa Barbara for lunch at a mexican restaurant. The waitress is 100% redone. Including her voice. We drive further north and arrive at Pismo Beach around 3 or 4.
The resort is really nice. We get the north facing sea view which also looks over the pool, change into swimsuits and head down to the beach for a long walk. We pass all sorts of intersting things. Seaweed, flies, logs, rocks, giant gross jelly fish... then we walk along to the pier but decide not to go on it because it's very long and seems to be mostly for fishing.
We walk back along the beach and sit down for a little while int he sand. It's not at all warm out but it's sweet to watch the waves. We head up the stairs to where the pool area is and a guest at the top asks if we'd seen the whales as I'm washing my feet. 'No' I say and turn back towards where he's pointing to where I see some shoots of water and air fromt he surface. 'Oh wow! Whales!' I say as I look out at the distant commotion, knowing all to well the sand and sea I'm washing off is from that water moments before. And then I see them, frolicking in the waves; 'Are those dolphins?' I watch as I see the dark forms breaking the surface much closer to shore. They're not whales, no chance... not deep enough. Yup, must be dolphins... or maybe... Maybe... no... it couldn't be. Could it? No.... far too playful right? And anyhow they don't hunt in packs like that do they? Do they? Do they? No. No no no. Dolphins. Right?
Sharks.
No no no no no. Dolphins. And anyhow... I'm high up here on this bluff aren't I? I should n't be worriesd about what kind of sea creature is our there in the surf (now feeding off pelicans... spread of blood forming and bubbling in the foam). It's just my imagination.
I hop into the pool. Fabri joins me and we play around for a bit but there's even bigger kids than me around and they're better at jumping and shouting and splashing so it doesn't last too long. We switch to the hottub and then back to relax. As a final measure I sit at the edge of the pool with my feet dangling in and feel truly and deeply happy. The sun on my face, and my eyes closed.
Showered and changed for dinner we drive the nothing distance to the centre and give it a quick tour before deciding on an Italian and being seated at their bar while we wait. I order, again, erronously, a white wine that's FAR too sweet for my pallette (I curse Bennigan's bar for this misfortune ont he trip). Once seated we share and asparagus starter and 2 pizzas, which are actually very very good.
Satisfied.
Sudden sleep and no time for blogging. Too full and nice a day.
TRAVEL
Los Angeles to Pismo Beach via Santa Barbara
BigMap
ACCOMODATION
Sea Crest Resort
http://www.seacrestpismo.com/
2241 Price Street
Pismo Beach, CA. 93449
The resort is really nice. We get the north facing sea view which also looks over the pool, change into swimsuits and head down to the beach for a long walk. We pass all sorts of intersting things. Seaweed, flies, logs, rocks, giant gross jelly fish... then we walk along to the pier but decide not to go on it because it's very long and seems to be mostly for fishing.
We walk back along the beach and sit down for a little while int he sand. It's not at all warm out but it's sweet to watch the waves. We head up the stairs to where the pool area is and a guest at the top asks if we'd seen the whales as I'm washing my feet. 'No' I say and turn back towards where he's pointing to where I see some shoots of water and air fromt he surface. 'Oh wow! Whales!' I say as I look out at the distant commotion, knowing all to well the sand and sea I'm washing off is from that water moments before. And then I see them, frolicking in the waves; 'Are those dolphins?' I watch as I see the dark forms breaking the surface much closer to shore. They're not whales, no chance... not deep enough. Yup, must be dolphins... or maybe... Maybe... no... it couldn't be. Could it? No.... far too playful right? And anyhow they don't hunt in packs like that do they? Do they? Do they? No. No no no. Dolphins. Right?
Sharks.
No no no no no. Dolphins. And anyhow... I'm high up here on this bluff aren't I? I should n't be worriesd about what kind of sea creature is our there in the surf (now feeding off pelicans... spread of blood forming and bubbling in the foam). It's just my imagination.
I hop into the pool. Fabri joins me and we play around for a bit but there's even bigger kids than me around and they're better at jumping and shouting and splashing so it doesn't last too long. We switch to the hottub and then back to relax. As a final measure I sit at the edge of the pool with my feet dangling in and feel truly and deeply happy. The sun on my face, and my eyes closed.
Showered and changed for dinner we drive the nothing distance to the centre and give it a quick tour before deciding on an Italian and being seated at their bar while we wait. I order, again, erronously, a white wine that's FAR too sweet for my pallette (I curse Bennigan's bar for this misfortune ont he trip). Once seated we share and asparagus starter and 2 pizzas, which are actually very very good.
Satisfied.
Sudden sleep and no time for blogging. Too full and nice a day.
TRAVEL
Los Angeles to Pismo Beach via Santa Barbara
BigMap
ACCOMODATION
Sea Crest Resort
http://www.seacrestpismo.com/
2241 Price Street
Pismo Beach, CA. 93449
Rattlesnakes, Mountain Lions and Michael Jackson
It's Michael Jackson's memorial today so we have to be careful what we want to do cause anything in the centre of town is going to be a zoo.
We head back out to Malibu and have lunch at Paradise Cove. It's a cute place right on the beach, but we eat too much calamari (which they serve in a giant martini glass... Jess even tried to warn us last night to no avail) and are suddenly exhausted. We sit on the beach for a while and listen to the kids playing and seagulls trying to steal food and then we walk out onto the pier and look back at the scene.
We leave lunch to drive up sunset boulevard only to find that it's the longest road on the planet. When we get to the top we're in Hollywood and stare down at the walk of fame unimpressedly. Is that all? We see the sign from a distance and as we drive closer come to a park which we decide not to explore becuase the bright yellow warning sign says 'Caution: Wildlife Area. Likely presence of Rattlesnakes and Mountain Lions'. Mountain lions!!
I'm sooooo tired so we drive all the way back down to the coast and I retreat into the hotel bed for a few hours. I haven't felt this way in ages, but I can't keep my eyes open. It's a mixture of all the driving, the sun after lunch, the heavy food at lunch and most likely has quite a bit to do with the wine from last night as well. Plus, I ahven't slept for more than a few hours a night since this roadtrip started.
When I wake up I feel refreshed and Fabri tells me the news of the world. There was a flood in Milan (I hope out house is ok, but there's no way to know till we get home). Then we decide to hit the hotel pool.
But Los Angeles is a good 20 degrees cooler than Vegas was. It's really cold! In fact I've been consistently cold since we got here. The pool water is hot though so I get in anyhow, but not for long cause there are no more towels and I have to send Fabri back to the room to get one for me. He's my hero when he comes back and my new destination is a hot shower.
Then we head out to Santa Monica for the evening. We park and walk the 3rd street prominade speculating on where to go eat. Then we go to check out the pier and see all the rides and corny pier-stuff they ahve going on there. Then it's back to the promenade and 3 slices of pizza and a cheery coke (which Fabri HATES but I love) for dinner because we decide that it's better for the evening than a real restaurant. We also passed a guy earlier who gave us a coupon for a comedy show, so we decide to go to that.
The show is really intimate and cute and you can tell they're all trying really hard. Some of the comedians are better than others and I laugh quite a bit during the one woman comic's bit. It was a nie change and the only show we've seen so far on this trip.
Exhausted we plow back to the hotel. Everything in LA is a billion miles from everything else. It's tremendous and so tiring. I liked Santa Monica and Malibu, but doubt I'd be very happy living in LA. Not that it was something I was considering too much. Right?
We head back out to Malibu and have lunch at Paradise Cove. It's a cute place right on the beach, but we eat too much calamari (which they serve in a giant martini glass... Jess even tried to warn us last night to no avail) and are suddenly exhausted. We sit on the beach for a while and listen to the kids playing and seagulls trying to steal food and then we walk out onto the pier and look back at the scene.
We leave lunch to drive up sunset boulevard only to find that it's the longest road on the planet. When we get to the top we're in Hollywood and stare down at the walk of fame unimpressedly. Is that all? We see the sign from a distance and as we drive closer come to a park which we decide not to explore becuase the bright yellow warning sign says 'Caution: Wildlife Area. Likely presence of Rattlesnakes and Mountain Lions'. Mountain lions!!
I'm sooooo tired so we drive all the way back down to the coast and I retreat into the hotel bed for a few hours. I haven't felt this way in ages, but I can't keep my eyes open. It's a mixture of all the driving, the sun after lunch, the heavy food at lunch and most likely has quite a bit to do with the wine from last night as well. Plus, I ahven't slept for more than a few hours a night since this roadtrip started.
When I wake up I feel refreshed and Fabri tells me the news of the world. There was a flood in Milan (I hope out house is ok, but there's no way to know till we get home). Then we decide to hit the hotel pool.
But Los Angeles is a good 20 degrees cooler than Vegas was. It's really cold! In fact I've been consistently cold since we got here. The pool water is hot though so I get in anyhow, but not for long cause there are no more towels and I have to send Fabri back to the room to get one for me. He's my hero when he comes back and my new destination is a hot shower.
Then we head out to Santa Monica for the evening. We park and walk the 3rd street prominade speculating on where to go eat. Then we go to check out the pier and see all the rides and corny pier-stuff they ahve going on there. Then it's back to the promenade and 3 slices of pizza and a cheery coke (which Fabri HATES but I love) for dinner because we decide that it's better for the evening than a real restaurant. We also passed a guy earlier who gave us a coupon for a comedy show, so we decide to go to that.
The show is really intimate and cute and you can tell they're all trying really hard. Some of the comedians are better than others and I laugh quite a bit during the one woman comic's bit. It was a nie change and the only show we've seen so far on this trip.
Exhausted we plow back to the hotel. Everything in LA is a billion miles from everything else. It's tremendous and so tiring. I liked Santa Monica and Malibu, but doubt I'd be very happy living in LA. Not that it was something I was considering too much. Right?
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Las Vegas to Los Angeles: July 6, 2009
I get up early and head to the pool with my book underarm, for one last swim in vegas. The building's gold windows are bouncing the sun down into the pool area and it's all aglow. I read a few chapters, then get in and float around for a while looking up at the tower and trying to count the floors to the 33rd where I'm sure sooner or later I'll see Fabri and his lens appear. A while after they do and a few chapters more I go off to buy some coffee and another bagel to bring up to the room.
We get ready, check out, and wait for the valet with the car. We head to Downtown Las Vegas because we didn't get to see it yet and we have visions of the ghosts of Frank Sinatra running around. We get there and park the car and wander around for 20 minutes. It's definately different from the strip, but still has the same sad undertones. Frankie's nowhere to be seen and it seems like the old Vegas days are gone. I wonder what they'd make of the new sections and all the theme hotels.
I read for most of the drive from Vegas to LA. It's a flat, desert road with nothing to look at and no place to stop. I finish my book. We drive through the creepiest town in America cause we get off the highway 1 exit too soon to go to Patty's 50's diner for lunch (but by now it's 3pm). Every window of every building has had a brick thrown through it. Most properties had fences around them, some even with barbed wire. The diner was nice and dinery, but weird that it was so much in the middle of nowhere.
We're tired when we get into LA and are actually on freeways in the city itself for over an hour before we arrive at the hotel. We're angry with the girl at the front desk cause she claims that we ahve to pay 22 dollars a night for valet parking and that there's no other option, but then Fabri finds a spot for free in a lot across the street. The hotel is artsy and designed nicely but we decide it's a failure because of the attitudes of the staff members.
I call my friend Jess from the room and we arrange to meet later.
We head off to Venice beach for the sunset because I promised myself 18 years ago (roughly) that I'd return there someday. I had even bought a silver ring there with 2 dolphins on it as a promise to myself. I must have worn that ring for 2 or 3 years. Anyways, it's much as I remembered it but I couldn't remember exactly why it was such a symbol for me the first time around. Maybe cause on that trip I was mostly listening to the Doors, or maybe cause I had never been anywhere so far from mainstream before that trip. We were approached by kids of about that same age all dressed up as pixies and giggling who wanted to know all about us. It was weird and fun.
We meet Jess and John at Moonshadows bad and restaurant in Malibu for a drink. The place is awsome, overhanging the pacific and is stewing in amurky, foggy mist tonight. Seagulls bob languidly up and down in the middleground and every 8 minutes or so a wave becomes violent and stirs us from our bottle of wine, crashing up against the wall at our shoulders. It's great to catch up. Sometimes time doesn't pass at all with certain people and things just continue on nicely. The conversation and wine flow freely and we all move outside on the overhanging patio before we realise it's already gotten late. We agree to try to meet tomorrow and head off in opposite directions along California highway 1.
I'm nausious in the car on the way back to the hotel and ask Fabri to pull over. It's clear i've drank too much. We get to the hotel and he drops me in front with my key as he goes to park the car. I go upstairs and try the door but it doesn't work. I try a few more times before doubting I'm at the right room. I go back downstairs and tell the front desk the situation, but they are not helpful at all. They tell me that because my name isn't on the registry they can't tell me if the room number is right or check if the key is working. Thank goodness Fabri came in just then cause it's a pretty silly policy, especially when it's not my fault the key got demagnitised. Had I come home without him they would have had me sit in the lobby all night.
TRAVEL
Las Vegas to Los Angeles
Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa
295 mi – circa 4 ore 31 min
We get ready, check out, and wait for the valet with the car. We head to Downtown Las Vegas because we didn't get to see it yet and we have visions of the ghosts of Frank Sinatra running around. We get there and park the car and wander around for 20 minutes. It's definately different from the strip, but still has the same sad undertones. Frankie's nowhere to be seen and it seems like the old Vegas days are gone. I wonder what they'd make of the new sections and all the theme hotels.
I read for most of the drive from Vegas to LA. It's a flat, desert road with nothing to look at and no place to stop. I finish my book. We drive through the creepiest town in America cause we get off the highway 1 exit too soon to go to Patty's 50's diner for lunch (but by now it's 3pm). Every window of every building has had a brick thrown through it. Most properties had fences around them, some even with barbed wire. The diner was nice and dinery, but weird that it was so much in the middle of nowhere.
We're tired when we get into LA and are actually on freeways in the city itself for over an hour before we arrive at the hotel. We're angry with the girl at the front desk cause she claims that we ahve to pay 22 dollars a night for valet parking and that there's no other option, but then Fabri finds a spot for free in a lot across the street. The hotel is artsy and designed nicely but we decide it's a failure because of the attitudes of the staff members.
I call my friend Jess from the room and we arrange to meet later.
We head off to Venice beach for the sunset because I promised myself 18 years ago (roughly) that I'd return there someday. I had even bought a silver ring there with 2 dolphins on it as a promise to myself. I must have worn that ring for 2 or 3 years. Anyways, it's much as I remembered it but I couldn't remember exactly why it was such a symbol for me the first time around. Maybe cause on that trip I was mostly listening to the Doors, or maybe cause I had never been anywhere so far from mainstream before that trip. We were approached by kids of about that same age all dressed up as pixies and giggling who wanted to know all about us. It was weird and fun.
We meet Jess and John at Moonshadows bad and restaurant in Malibu for a drink. The place is awsome, overhanging the pacific and is stewing in amurky, foggy mist tonight. Seagulls bob languidly up and down in the middleground and every 8 minutes or so a wave becomes violent and stirs us from our bottle of wine, crashing up against the wall at our shoulders. It's great to catch up. Sometimes time doesn't pass at all with certain people and things just continue on nicely. The conversation and wine flow freely and we all move outside on the overhanging patio before we realise it's already gotten late. We agree to try to meet tomorrow and head off in opposite directions along California highway 1.
I'm nausious in the car on the way back to the hotel and ask Fabri to pull over. It's clear i've drank too much. We get to the hotel and he drops me in front with my key as he goes to park the car. I go upstairs and try the door but it doesn't work. I try a few more times before doubting I'm at the right room. I go back downstairs and tell the front desk the situation, but they are not helpful at all. They tell me that because my name isn't on the registry they can't tell me if the room number is right or check if the key is working. Thank goodness Fabri came in just then cause it's a pretty silly policy, especially when it's not my fault the key got demagnitised. Had I come home without him they would have had me sit in the lobby all night.
TRAVEL
Las Vegas to Los Angeles
Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa
295 mi – circa 4 ore 31 min
Juky 5th in Vegas
We stop at Starbucks for an 'everything' bagel and a coffee and grab a loungy sofa by the water's edge at the hotel's pool to draw all the things we want to do and see on the map. Afterwards we have a swim and pop in the hot-tub for a half hour before heading back up to the room and getting ready.
We walk through the MGM again and stop at the lion exhibition where we find the tenant on a glass ceiling above our heads. Two lion guys are also in the habitat with the lion about 8 feet away from him and with the postures of construction workers on break. I figure this lion is well fed, but watch out guys ont he day he gets bored of the chew toys and yoga balls he's provided with for comfort.
We cross back into New York New York and are relieved that the crowds aren't the same as yesterdy cause it's Sunday and no longer independance day. We eat a pepperoni pretzel and a jalapeno hot dog pretzel. They haven't quite got the recipe to the same quality as New York (or in fact at all) but it fills a hole in our stomachs.
For the next 4 hours we weave our way through the casinos. Stopping only at 2 slot machines (my big Vegas gamble equals 2 dollars which I lose immediately). I don't have a gambling bone in my body and at both machines I wonder why it is people keep spending their money on it. I guess had I won anything (ever, in my whole life) then I might feel different.
We see Ceasar's Palace, The Mirage, Bellagio, and Treasure Island and we're exhausted. We stop in the heat to watch the fountain show at the Bellagio and have a drink during the Pirates show at TI. We don't even understand what time it is. We did wait around for a show to start at the Forums' shops but it was weitrd and anamatronicy and decided not to wait around to see who Atlantis chose as the successor to his throne. We also thought about going to Sigfried and Roy's Dolphin and big cat containment, but ti cost more than most Zoos cost in the rest of the world and it was outside in the furnace like heat. We stopped in FAO Schwartz and played with all the toys for a while, but were sad when we realised that there were no children there. We stopped in a photographer's gallery and found out his pieces start at $2000 and go up to $1 000 000. They better give you the negatives too if you're paying a million dollars for a photo right?
All the casinos are the same. They're all bigger and better than the next one and more themed than the previous. It's a crazy crazy thing. We wonder briefly if we have any steam left to make it to the downtown Vegas part of town, where the crooners all got started, but decide that we don't and instead spend the nxt few hours satisfying our stomachs and going to see a movie.
Transformers. I don't understand what's happening in any of the fight scenes. I can't follow all the shiny metal or know who's winning at any point in time. I liked the action and I think Shea LeBoeuf is really great (still remember seeing him for the first time in Disney's Holes at an outdoor theatre in Greece). Overall the movie was a great idea considering how sleepy we were and I'm glad we got to see it.
Watched an episode of True Blood and read a few chapters of my book while Fabri played a game on his phone to finish off the day and then fell into a deep sleep... in the fluffy cloudlike bed.
We walk through the MGM again and stop at the lion exhibition where we find the tenant on a glass ceiling above our heads. Two lion guys are also in the habitat with the lion about 8 feet away from him and with the postures of construction workers on break. I figure this lion is well fed, but watch out guys ont he day he gets bored of the chew toys and yoga balls he's provided with for comfort.
We cross back into New York New York and are relieved that the crowds aren't the same as yesterdy cause it's Sunday and no longer independance day. We eat a pepperoni pretzel and a jalapeno hot dog pretzel. They haven't quite got the recipe to the same quality as New York (or in fact at all) but it fills a hole in our stomachs.
For the next 4 hours we weave our way through the casinos. Stopping only at 2 slot machines (my big Vegas gamble equals 2 dollars which I lose immediately). I don't have a gambling bone in my body and at both machines I wonder why it is people keep spending their money on it. I guess had I won anything (ever, in my whole life) then I might feel different.
We see Ceasar's Palace, The Mirage, Bellagio, and Treasure Island and we're exhausted. We stop in the heat to watch the fountain show at the Bellagio and have a drink during the Pirates show at TI. We don't even understand what time it is. We did wait around for a show to start at the Forums' shops but it was weitrd and anamatronicy and decided not to wait around to see who Atlantis chose as the successor to his throne. We also thought about going to Sigfried and Roy's Dolphin and big cat containment, but ti cost more than most Zoos cost in the rest of the world and it was outside in the furnace like heat. We stopped in FAO Schwartz and played with all the toys for a while, but were sad when we realised that there were no children there. We stopped in a photographer's gallery and found out his pieces start at $2000 and go up to $1 000 000. They better give you the negatives too if you're paying a million dollars for a photo right?
All the casinos are the same. They're all bigger and better than the next one and more themed than the previous. It's a crazy crazy thing. We wonder briefly if we have any steam left to make it to the downtown Vegas part of town, where the crooners all got started, but decide that we don't and instead spend the nxt few hours satisfying our stomachs and going to see a movie.
Transformers. I don't understand what's happening in any of the fight scenes. I can't follow all the shiny metal or know who's winning at any point in time. I liked the action and I think Shea LeBoeuf is really great (still remember seeing him for the first time in Disney's Holes at an outdoor theatre in Greece). Overall the movie was a great idea considering how sleepy we were and I'm glad we got to see it.
Watched an episode of True Blood and read a few chapters of my book while Fabri played a game on his phone to finish off the day and then fell into a deep sleep... in the fluffy cloudlike bed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
