Travel part II: Los Angeles

I was in Los Angeles over the weekend before Easter. 

Google says that Los Angeles is 7,937.5 miles from Melbourne. Or 12,774.16 km. That's a long way. After traveling that far, it makes sense to meet up with people who are nearby. I don't think I know anyone who lives in Los Angeles, but I do know some people who live significantly closer to Los Angeles than Melbourne. For example, I have a dear Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Dave who live in Southern California, only about 72 miles away from UCLA. That is less than 1/100-th of the usual distance between us.

So I contacted Dave and Elizabeth a few months ago to see if we could meet up? Turns out it happened to be my uncle's birthday, but he couldn't think of anything nicer to do than spend it with me. (Awshucks.)

And later, in conversation with my Mom, I realised my parents live only 705 miles from UCLA. That's  less than 1/10-th of the usual distance between us, and it would only take them a full day to drive across the desert to visit. So I called them:

"Mom and Dad, want to visit LA while I'm there?"

And they like to drive, in a way that I hated when I was a kid, when I was stuck with them where ever they decided to drive, no matter how long it took. But this liking-to-drive thing now could work in my favour, especially since I wouldn't be in the car.

Anyway, they were up for it. So I found them a nearby hotel, booked a room, and off they went. 

So I got to spend my weekend with family! It was lovely to see these people, who I miss. Dave and Elizabeth picked us up at the hotel where my parents were staying, and we drove to the Getty museum, which is not far from UCLA. 

It was raining. 

But the grounds were still quite beautiful. 

 And the weather did start to clear up later in the day.

After a couple of hours, it was clear enough to see all the way across Los Angeles. Here I am with my parents.

And one with just me:

And my favourite photo of the day: Dad, Elizabeth, Mom, Dave. I told them I thought they looked like a K-pop band.

They just need a catchy name. Pink Geezers. 

After another drive, 

... we decided on dinner at Eataly, which is an Italian grocer / restaurant / chain that Elizabeth and Dave recommended, and was very fun. 

I am not very good at taking photos. I did not take a photo of the restaurant. I did not take a photo of the food, or Dave and Elizabeth, or my parents. Everything was delicious and lovely, but I did not take a photo.

I guess what strikes me more than food or lovely people or lovely locations are things that are a bit absurd. And so the only photo I have from Eataly is a sign in the ladies' toilets:

In the fine print it says: "Do not drink the toilet or urinal water."

YIKES! Do people need signs like this??! What is the US coming to!!??

Erk. 

Anyway, that is kind of a terrible photo to finish with, but it was also my last from a spectacularly lovely day, filled with the best company and most fabulous future K-pop band ever.

So maybe I'll end with another photo from the Getty. 

Thanks, Dave and Elizabeth, Mom and Dad, for humoring me and coming to visit, even though it was far. I loved it!