… and it was more than I could have ever asked for.
I am much too late blogging about this, but I cannot not mention the wonderful weekend I spend with my dear friend Caryn in Los Angeles a couple of months ago. It was just before my trip to Germany and I didn’t have the time to sit down and write it all down right away, but the weekend was wonderful and special and much needed at the time and I want to do it again!
Caryn had asked me earlier this summer, if I would be interested to go see Sir Paul McCartney in concert with her. It was on her bucket list and even though it wasn’t on mine (I don’t even have one, as previously mentioned), I can’t say that it didn’t sound intriguing to me to see an Ex-Beatle in concert. I mean, the guy is in his 70’s. How many more tours is he going to do?
The show in LA was the only possible date and so we booked the tickets for Dodgers Stadium and then planned a whole weekend around it!
I arrived Friday afternoon at LAX, met up at a near-by Starbucks with one of Caryn’s friends, who was kind enough to “oh, you know, let us stay in his awesome Santa Monica-located, beach view included”-apartment just like that, hung out at the Starbucks until Caryn’s much delayed flight finally arrived and then picked her up at the car rental location and it was just magical to see her again after more than a year (since BiSC).
We drove to Santa Monica and had a late dinner at “The Urth Caffé”, a recommendation that didn’t disappoint, with a big side of highly anticipated catch-up conversation.
Saturday morning, we went for a run at the Santa Monica beach (naturally!) since Caryn was training for her first half-marathon (me not so much) and both decided that it wouldn’t be completely awful to relocate there and do this every Saturday morning. (It makes me seriously sad that I didn’t take advantage of this when I actually had the opportunity when we lived in Westwood).
We got out of Santa Monica way to late, heading to Hollywood where we had reservations at the Warner Brother’s Studio. I had never done any of the studio tours and was excited that Caryn wanted to do this! It’s a bummer that I didn’t know/don’t watch some of the shows whose sets we were able to walk on, but oh well. It was still a great experience! The Harry Potter and Batman exhibitions were pretty fun!
The sorting head decided that I belong in “Gryffindor”. Hooray!
And the highlight was getting to sit on the famous couch at Central Perk, because F·R·I·E·N·D·S.
In the evening, we met up with Katelin and Matt for dinner at the Granville Café in Glendale.
For the next two nights, we had reservations through Airbnb in East Hollywood and stayed at Kristi’s house. It turned out to be a lovely first-time Airbnb- experience. Kristi was a fabulous, almost-too-attentive host who served late night banana splits and wine to us and another couple staying with her. We had some great conversations, even did some hiking in Griffith Park on Sunday with our new friends.
We had breakfast at the 101 Coffeeshop and then headed up to Griffith Park.
In the afternoon, we got ready for the concert. Dinner was had at “Yogurtland”, like adults do, and then we headed to Dodgers Stadium. It was a beautiful, warm night. We had great seats (even though we were high up in the ranks) and it was ‘super-moon-night” and the moon was marvelous!
Well, and so was the concert! Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
On Monday, we headed back to Santa Monica for the day. We had breakfast at M Street Kitchen and then went walking on the beach.
Caryn talked me into going on the rollercoaster on the Pier (I usually don’t do rollercoasters, just for you, Caryn!!). We had more frozen yogurt (I think I am addicted now) and in the afternoon she took me back to LAX where a mopy, cry-fest ensued upon saying our goodbyes. Oh, how I wished we lived closer (even within the same state, would be great. I don’t want to seem that greedy.)
The best thing about this weekend: how easy and comfortable it was to travel with Caryn. She was a totally easy-going, flexible, no-pain-in-the-butt travelmate and we just got along splendidly. That is not always a given if you spent 72 hours non-stop with someone and I know better (from experience) than not to appreciate that.
Elly
November 3, 2014 at 7:50 amOh – that weather looks glorious! Sounds like you guys definitely made the most out of LA :)
Ti
November 3, 2014 at 12:03 pmWhat a lovely trip!!! And your photos are amazing, what a great documentation of those 72 hours. <3
katelin
November 3, 2014 at 1:36 pmI’m so glad I got to see you both when you were here, such a fun night. And so glad you guys had such a wonderful trip overall!
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
November 3, 2014 at 5:12 pmWhat a fun weekend! You guys fit a lot of fun things into 72 hours. The beach pictures are so beautiful! I have never been to Santa Monica but it looks gorgeous there. The sand looks so white!
I, too, appreciate people that I travel well with. That is how I feel about the girls that I do my running trips with. Everything is just easy peasy when I am with those girls. We always seem to come to a consensus on what to do so easily and everyone ends up enjoying what we choose. I know it’s not always like that as there are people I am very close to that I would never travel with. ;)
Chrissy
November 4, 2014 at 12:31 pmWoW, what an amazing trip and you look so pretty! I bet you guys had a blast! Great pics!
Holly
November 4, 2014 at 1:22 pmSounds like a fun weekend! I need a friend to visit me next August so I have someone to go see Taylor Swift with, lol. My husband refuses. Backstreet Boys, he’ll go to, but not Taylor? Silly, silly man. I’ve never gone on a roller coaster – you’re brave!
Maria
November 23, 2014 at 5:45 pmlooks like a great weekend! the pictures are gorgeous! i wanne sit on that Friends couch! man i am jealous!! :D