Note: Posted at a later date because of limited internet access
To travel again feels SO good. I landed in L.A. this morning
without a plan, and have relished in the joy of being able to be a nomad in a
new city. There’s something about finding your way when the path is not set
that gives me such adrenaline and peace.
When I landed I had vague notions of what I could do during
the day – go to Manhattan Beach, rent a car and go to the canyons, or walk
around. I ended up deciding to try out LA’s public transportation, and for $1 I
was able to board a bus. The exact bus I was going to board was not clear, but
I knew I was going somewhere. I met a girl while waiting in the station who was
heading to Santa Monica. We both were trying to figure out how to buy tickets
for the bus fare, and in the process I decided that I would just ride with her.
It was helpful, too, because I didn’t have cash in a small enough denomination
for the fare, and she was able to spot me.
The ride was quick, and mid-way I decided that I wouldn’t go
all the way into Santa Monica, but instead would hop out at Venice Beach! The
bus stop was about 1.3 miles away from the beach, so it was a bit of a walk
down Washington avenue, but along the way I got to soak up the sun, enjoy
watching the locals (and tourists) cruise by on their bikes, sometimes even walking
their dogs alongside them!
It took me about 30 minutes to get to the beach, but man it
was so worth it. It’s a spectacular sight. The beach is long, the sand is
white, the water and sky blue, and the mountains in the background green. The people and industry
on the beach gives off an incredible energy to compliment the serenity of the
natural scene. They merge together to form a vibrant community of people who
couldn’t even begin to understand how lucky they are to get to be a part of
such a beautiful place.
I am sitting on a sidewalk patio at C&O Trattoria at the
Venice Pier, enjoying cold water, “Killer” Garlic Rolls, and waiting on an
eggplant lasagna. Sitting here without a
care in the world and writing again feels great. I’m looking forward to the
next 6-7 days of adventure, and of course each of the adventures ahead. It’s
only a matter of time before I take-off on an epic around the world tour. My
dream is to be able to travel so lightly and so unpredictably that I can meld
into each community I visit, from the clothes I wear to the foods I eat, and
take the next step based only on the opportunities that are presented, rather
than the plans that I have.
I spent the afternoon laying out on the beach, reading a book, and enjoying listening to the waves. I’m catching up on some e-mails now with a fresh “Vitamin C Overload” smoothie. One negative thing about travel is being prone to sickness, so I am trying my best to pre-empt that. I'm about to go for a workout, and hopefully I'll sleep well on the plane, which asll should help to make travel easier.
