Sunny Southern California

Driving into Los Angeles for the first time.

Well it certainly seems true that it never rains in southern california.  I just looked at my weather for the next five days and its all glowing orbs with numbers like 75 under them, go figure.  It's certainly been a busy couple of days.  I arrived in Los Angeles around 2pm Wednesday and met 2 of my apartment-mates (Cori and Tamara) for the first time! They were very helpful in bringing up my things from my fully loaded car (full of stuff not fun gadgets and gizmos).  After putting everything in my new room we ventured off to Long Beach for some errands for them and sight seeing for me.  

 

My street.  That little white building in the distance is the Observatory.

Tamara and me at the Pier in Long Beach

Colorful house-like shops

As soon as I saw the area around the pier I said "this looks like Miami" to which Tamara began to explain how it doubles for it in many TV shows including Dexter.  This then became a theme of our outing.  Tamara would point and say "these are the offices in Dexter," etc.  We proceeded to walk along the pier past the multicolored pastel house-like shops, lighthouse in the distance, and we came to the chocolate/ candy shop.  Forgive me but I was jonesin' for some salt water taffy.  I don't know why, I guess it was a combination of sun and sea air that made me want that sweet and sticky rainbow colored treat.  

After taffy, we headed back to Tamara's old apartment for a bit and then off to Bible study with her crew down there.  As our last stop we went to In-N-Out Burger, a place which I had never been to before (*pause to hear the exclamations of all who have tried it*).  Almost the entire Bible study came out to see me try my first burger.  Along the way I sampled some of the others' fries and fries with animal spread.  Next time I'll have to get a milkshake.  It was a very good burger and not too expensive, I think I'm a new fan.  

The next day (Thursday) was a flurry of organization.  I organized and put together my bed.  I also had my first interview for an internship.  The interview was on the corner of Hollywood and Vine which was a little surreal.  After the interview I got a little turned around and drove past Grauman's Chinese Theater. It was awesome to see it outside of Disney World (The Great Movie Ride).  I headed down Hollywood Blvd. (straight shot to "home") and caught my first glimpse of the Hollywood Sign.  I know that I'll get used to it eventually but for now I'm a tourist.   

I also got to take a small break and get some Yogurtland.  It's pretty much the same as Sweet Frog or Dream Berry but it was delicious non-the-less.  I'm wondering if I can find any small frozen yogurt/custard places nearby, something like The Dairy Godmother in Alexandria.  Now I'm off to another full day of unpacking, meeting my roommate (Harley), another interview, visiting my program's office, hiking up Griffith for sunset, and all of the other unplanned excitements of living.   

Grauman's Chinese Theater

The Dairy Godmother