Big Bad in So Cal: Oceanside
My last full day in Los Angeles was honestly welcomed. The Metric was a fantastic hotel experience and I would stay there again, if I ever wanted to go to Downtown Los Angeles, which probably won’t happen.
Downtown wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t Hollywood magic. And the tacos, which were from a brick-and-mortar location, didn’t agree with my stomach. Street meat FTW.
Check out was a breeze. I thought about going to the final Brewers Dodgers game at noon, but I was emotionally tapped out of the glitz of Dodger Stadium, and tickets were still insane.
I called ahead and found out my next hotel, the Jamaica Bay Inn at Marina Del Rey, had early check-in. Perfect. let’s ride.
I get checked in and felt antsy. Like I made a mistake in not going to the game.
So I looked up tickets online and found something a little more exciting. I packed three jerseys for the baseball series — Ryan Braun pinstripe, Braun batting practice, Paul Molitor throwback. The throwback matched colors pretty well, so I went with that. For $125, my afternoon plans were set.
Jesus Christ this stadium. Like, seriously. It’s probably going to keep the citizens of LA in debt for decades, but hot damn, it’s a palace.
SoFi Stadium is like being inside a video game. It just didn’t feel like real life. To make matters even better, I ended up buying the ticket from this guy.
Yes, the guy that tried to fight 9 people sold me the ticket.
He explained he was on the construction crews that built the roof and foundations, and he had photo proof, unlike the mysterious bar owner. The fight wasn’t his fault, so his season tickets remained intact. Though, to his own admission, he was expecting the heavily reduced price would attract a “hot little white woman,” he was treated to the largest possible white guy who wasn’t already on the field.
Assorted musings:
SoFi Stadium has an amazing chicken salad sandwich
I also had my first michelada (beer Bloody Mary-ish) and got a souvenir aluminum beer cup.
I saw security almost eject a man that everyone said was the wrong guy. Security asked the woman who was causing trouble. “You said it was the Mexican guy in the hat?” No, the woman replied, it was the Arizona Cardinals fan literally running up and down the stairs behind security waving a giant sombrero. Security looked at the woman and STILL TRIED TO EJECT THE WRONG GUY. Like dudes, the sombrero guy is right there. She’s literally pointing at him.
I ended my last night on the Santa Monica Pier.
I ate funnel cake, a bacon wrapped hot dog, and a blue cookies and cream milkshake that undoubtedly were all terrible for me, but I didn’t care. I walked along the boardwalk, to the end of Route 66. Into the tourist trap shops where I bought a shirt. Through the art vendors all selling variations of the same things. The carnival games. The Ferris Wheel. Spotted some fake IDS and a money shark.
Listened to a violinist play movie soundtrack themes while gazing out into the Pacific Ocean at dusk.
What a way to end the last night in LA.
I had one more stop I had to make the next morning — Venice Beach.
After being disgusted by paying $20 for a well Bloody Mary, I declined to the offer of a breakfast menu and decided to walk (yes, again) to Venice Beach. I found a bagel shop that served fresh lox, and a shake shop that was equally good. I added 25% tips to both and still spent less than $20. I know I was on vacation, but I’d rather eat the big bagel than the fancy plate.
Monday morning in Venice was quiet. I walked to the pier edge, spotted Santa Monica in the distance, and shuffled back. Sure, I stared for a little too long, cut my check out a little too close for comfort, but I arrived at LAX with plenty of time.
I keep saying to myself how much I need a relaxing vacation, but when I look back at trips like this, I can’t name a single thing I would give up. Yes, the hike ruined my feet, sending ripples through every day. But I wouldn’t give any of it up. The beach vacation can wait. I have so much more stuff to see.
