Santa Monica

Since the Santa Monica hop on hop off bus route was closed I decided to take an Uber to the Santa Monica Pier. This doesn’t seem like the most direct route. I found out from my Uber driver that they had a marathon in Santa Monica. That’s why the tour buses didn’t run today. It’s also why we aren’t taking the best route.

I mostly know about the Santa Monica Pier from one of the openings of 3’s Company. In that one they walked the pier, rode bumper cars, and a carousel. The bumper cars are no longer here, but the carousel is.

Also from that same 3’s Company opening you can see a Holiday Inn. That hotel is still here but it’s a Wyndham now.

I haven’t eaten since that churro around lunch time. I’m trying to squeeze two days of plans into one day and I just haven’t had time to stop and eat. There’s a pizza by the slice place a couple blocks away that was recommended to me.

On my way to the pizza place I passed this taco restaurant that was loaded. I mean I’ve walked by quite a few restaurants around here and most are slow. This one is packed. I have to try it. I decide to do both. I’ll have one pizza slice, then come back for tacos.

I got steak tacos and a local beer called Calidad.

Wow. Uber prices are a lot higher than they were when I came here.

I ended up getting a shared Lyft for $22. That’s the first time I’ve done a shared ride. I had to walk two blocks to get picked up. When I got in there was another passenger in the back seat. We went to my hotel first so it didn’t inconvenience me at all.

The Voyage Home

Good morning! I got up at 6:30. My flight is at 11:15. I want to leave at 8:15 to make sure I’m at the airport by 9:15.

Good bye, Los Angeles!

Lyft to the airport is $40. Uber is $80. I went with Lyft. I have a 15 minute wait before the car is supposed to get here.

It seems a bit on the cold side for mid-March in Los Angeles. At least based on what I’ve always heard about SoCal having perfect weather year round.

It looks like my driver took a wrong turn.

Now he has passed the hotel.

I am sitting in the lobby waiting on my Lyft.

Nice looking bar. Too bad it’s not open.

Jose finally made it and we’re on our way. Those tents in front of the Dolby theater are bigger now and they have a clear tent in the middle of all of the white tents. Jose said that road closure was responsible for his delay.

The line doesn’t look too bad.

There was no line at the kiosk and only one person in line at the bag drop.

The escalator takes you right up to security.

I got through security with no problem. I’m going to look for coffee and something to eat.

The line is 22 deep at the coffee bean and tea leaf.

I got a coffee, a water, and I’m waiting on a jalapeno cheese bagel.

Time to board.

So far I have darth vader in the window seat and nobody next to me.

A pilot took the seat next to me. Then after they closed the doors they moved him to an aisle seat. That makes a clean sweep of me not having anyone in the middle seat on any of my flights.

My bag is supposed to be on carousel 31. As soon as I have it I’ll call the shuttle to take me to my car.

I think they gave us the wrong number. Those aren’t my flights.

I found it. Carousel 32, not 31.

Weather looks good.

Got it.

They said to go wait by the courtesy van sign and the shuttle will be here within 30 minutes.

It took less than three minutes for the shuttle to get here.

And we’re back. This trip is over but I have a lot more LAX/Long Beach/Queen Mary/Panorama content coming starting next week.

• Santa Monica