Snapshots

Finally figured out how to get my LA trip photos on the web. So here's a series of snapshots from my trip. Enjoy!

Hermosa Beach/South Bay area:
My sister's place is the two windows on the lower right portion of the building. Small, but very nice. This is taken with my back to the Strand. If I turn around, this is the view from in front of Anne's place, looking west toward the Strand and the beach. Walking down that laneway, you come out onto the Strand. These signs are posted on the concrete barriers. I like the "Leave Only Footprints" bit at the bottom.

Some shots of the Strand:
- looking north
- looking south.
- Multi-dogging!

I liked the fact that the houses along the Strand are a mix of quaint 'n' cozy, and modern 'n' cool-looking. But all very expensive, I imagine. Location, location, location.

It's a very nice beach, and there weren't many people around. Of course, it was in the low 70s F, so it wasn't great sunbathing temperatures. Saw the lifeguard truck, but no Pam Anderson. But there were a few people frollicking in the water. From the Hermosa Pier I snapped a shot of some kids jumping waves on their boogie boards. I think these might be the younger brothers of the other boogie-boarders. Not ready for the real waves yet.

I call this one "Lone surfer at sundown". Beautiful waves. And dig that sky.

Saw this in a store window while strolling around Hermosa Beach. Welcome to California. (Incidentally, I didn't realize until recently that's it's pronounced 'pie-lah-tees'. I thought it was 'pilots', as in Pontious. A little further on, I felt someone watching me, and looked up to see this guy: "Now go away or I shall bark at you a second time-uh!".

And speaking of dogs, this guy was really bootin' around. On Dasher! On Dingo!

Pelican Row. Taken just before sunset on Redondo Beach Pier - Fisherman's Wharf. These guys know they're stars. I think they even have agents.

A shot of sunset from the end of Redondo Beach Pier. Red sky at night, sailors delight.

Mexico:
Run for the border! Welcome to Meh-heeco!

A disco bar on a corner in downtown Ensenada. I think that's King Kong (note Faye Wray in his right hand). And a snowman on the roof. Naturally.

A huge ó†and I mean HUGE ó Mexican flag in the main square in Ensenada. Taken from the car window as we were driving into town.

On the way back, we stopped for dinner at a beautiful hotel in Rosarito. Here we see some folks at the Hotel Rosarito patio, being serenadd by a mariachi guitarist. And lovely colours in the dining room, enlivened by the late day sun.

We stayed overnight in San Diego, at the home of Anne's old friends, Kathy and Larry, also Canadians. Larry was the Canadian military attachÈ in San Diego. Tough assignment. Here we see Anne with Molly, Kathy and Larry's truly cuddly doberman, modeling the new scarf Anne brought her. She's really just a big pussy cat in a dog's body.

They put me in a room at the end of the house, and in the morning I awoke to find the room bathed in an orange glow. Opened the blinds and found the source.


The Desert:
Driving across the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas. Anne had worked a night shift at the hospital the night before, and was sleeping in the back seat, so I took this shot while driving. Not a very interesting photo, but hey, it's me driving in the desert! Meep, meep!

They say this is world's largest thermometer! It's in a place called Baker, Calif. No doubt aptly named in the summer. Of course, there's a fine tradition around North America for having giant things by the side of the highway. But I found myself wondering what kind of people would live out in the desert. And this left me with the distinct impression that desert people are kinda weird.

If there were aliens living in the desert, I wonder where they'd live? Hmm. "Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Zzyzx. What an interesting name. Is it French?"

Las Vegas:

Yes, Las Vegas. Where there's no such thing as a has-been.

Anne claims that I hold the world record as the only person ever to visit Las Vegas and not drop so much as one nickel in a slot machine, or partake of any gambling whatsoever. It's true. I don't like casinos. They're too noisy, smokey, and all you do is sit around losing money. Woo. But it was great to see the sights of Vegas. I liked Fremont Street the most. It's where the older casinos are located. The original strip, I guess. You've seen it in the U2 video for "I Still haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Recognize the Fremont Casino?.

This was very cool. Fremont Street is covered by this canopy thing. Every hour on the hour, the lights on the whole street go down, and the "ceiling" comes to life. We just happened to be there when it started. It was some sort of story about the history of civilization told in music and this amazing animation display. Truly spectacular.

Then there's the famous neon cowboy at the Pioneer Casino on Fremont Street.

I love seeing signs like this one. We were leaving the Hilton after a delicious Thanksgiving meal at Benihana. I assume 'Paradise' was another casino.

A dark photo of the MGM Grand. Can you make out the giant gold MGM lion?

Hey, I made it to "Paris" afterall! We went up the half-scale Eiffel Tower. All the staff there try to speak French. They shouldn't. The woman who was our elevator attendant sounded and looked like Carol Channing with a 2-pack-a-day habit.

Back in Hermosa, last day. Anne and Tyler, one of her dog-sitting charges. He was a lot of fun. When he was excited, he'd hop in the air and spin around, doing 360's! What a riot!

And finally, Me making out with Tinkerbell in the Columbia House men's room? Flash in the can? Actually, I had one last exposure to use up before dropping the film off, the so I went for a self-portrait.