LA beyond the postcards
I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ll admit the US wasn’t typically on my radar for must-visit places. Maybe it’s because, living in the UK, American culture already feels so intertwined with my daily life. The movies, the music, the icons — it often feels like I’ve seen it without truly experiencing it. But LA, especially with its Hollywood allure, always seemed like the epitome of this cinematic, larger-than-life image I had in my mind.
Travel, to me, is not just about ticking off sights; it’s about understanding, about diving deep into the mundane and everyday. How people go about their daily lives differently or just conduct themselves in general. I had ventured out to LA primarily to reunite with a friend, someone I’d unexpectedly connected with years ago in Barcelona. He now lives in Downtown LA, a part not as gleaming and glamorous as its Hollywood counterpart. But that’s the charm, isn’t it? Experiencing places without the weight of preconceived notions.
What struck me initially about Downtown was its stillness. The anticipated hustle and bustle seemed muted. Navigating its streets, often feeling like I had them all to myself, was both an adventure and a novelty.
But it wasn’t the silence that stayed with me. It was the glaring contrast. Skyscrapers casting shadows over tents, the affluence against the backdrop of poverty. In the UK, the face of homelessness often feels minimalistic — here, it was communities with tents and belongings, carving out space in the heart of the city. This stark duality, was really interesting to me.
But LA wasn’t just these raw, introspective moments. It had its lighter side too. The sunsets were beautiful, with colours just making everything pop. There was one hostel I stayed at, where a rooftop pool offered the perfect haven for a quiet reading session, and helped me forget about everything else.
Then, there was Venice Beach. I spent two mornings there getting up early and taking a walk with a coffee down to the beach. Seeing the surfers there perform their seemingly daily ritual of catching waves before work, felt almost therapeutic.
In Santa Monica, I rented a bike, and as I pedalled, my favourite playlist kept me company through my AirPods. Surprisingly, in this sprawling city, there were pockets of quiet. Little nooks perfect for a coffee and a good book. Yes, LA’s vast. But when I zoomed in on areas — Venice, Beverly Hills — it felt more manageable, even personal. The best moments for me were often unplanned, shared with my friend or hostel mates, just stumbling upon something new.
Those LA sunsets are truly unforgettable. One evening at the Griffith Observatory stands out. As the sun set, the colours just made everything look like a picture. That picture changed almost every time you glanced away and looked back. And there seemed to be true serenity, even amidst all the strangers.
On my last day, spontaneity took the lead. An Uber ride, an impromptu stop at SpaceX, and eventually, that famed In-n-Out burger near LAX. I spent two hours having my lunch in that spot and I couldn’t think of a better place to end my trip. LA, in a week, was a tapestry of experiences, sights, and introspections.
That’s the beauty of travel — it never quite goes as planned, but it’s always worth the ride.
