The Zombie vs LA Cop

Posted on 19/01/2011 under North America, Travelling

Trying to sleep at Gatwick

To say my start to 2011 has been manic would be an understatement. This week alone I have finished my job to become self employed, moved out of my flat and left Cardiff to travel to Los Angeles! The aim is to backpack a little around North America for five weeks and the reason for the self inflicted manic-ness is what with changing my employment status, now seemed like a good time to do it (…or at least it did when I booked my flights) Throwing in a move the day I leave Cardiff might have been a bit too much but I don’t like to do things the easy way! I was still moving things out and cleaning my flat right up to the minute I had to leave for my train – putting the bin bags out and dropping the keys off on the way! After virtually no sleep at the airport last night and only a few stolen hours on the flight over I managed my flights and airport security with no problem and arrived in Los Angeles running on auto pilot zombie mode (which can be prone to errors … I searched for a boarding card for 5 minutes which I was holding in my hand!) As my first host Adam picks me up from the ramp at LAX I throw my bags in the trunk and am told by the guy behind in a threatening booming voice “you betta shift that car” so not looking behind I hop in and we drive off. Looking in the mirror I find out the guy was a cop!

Eating frozen yoghurt overlooking 3rd St, Santa Monica

My first day consisted of meeting with Sarah, a couch surfer who stayed with me in Cardiff and we ran along the beach and through Venice and spent the afternoon hanging out in Santa Monica. It’s really sunny here which was a nice surprise after leaving leaving the UK so I have been taking it easy and trying to get over the jet lag. I knew LA was going to be big but it is HUGE, we took a drive along Mulholland Drive the night I arrived and looked over just a part of the city and lights stretched as far as the eye could see! Already I have eaten lots of nice food (Mexican… yum) and I am glad that I am doing my running training whilst I am out here – I just ate a “mini muffin” which looked pretty normal size to me!