Week One

Tomorrow marks one week since I moved to L.A. Not a momentous occasion, or even something worth celebrating remotely, but definitely worth a picture. Or two.

It turns out that Culver City is an amazing place to live. There's a super handy bike path that goes straight to the beach, without encountering any of those L.A. drivers that don't know what to do when they see a biker--except hit the gas pedal. Also, it has great restaurants, a mini hike that makes you feel apart from urbanity (check out the view from the top, below) and a lot to do.

AND it's cooler here than it is further east: super. essential.

I'm so lucky to be living in a great place and to have amazing friends to explore it with!

My morning bike ride:

The view from the Baldwin Hills scenic overlook:

Setting Sail

Last weekend I went to the coolest pre-wedding event ever: a sailing trip around the San Francisco Bay.  Thinking I was about to attend a ladies only booze cruise, I was a little thrown when I approached the dock and was strapped into a life vest, asked to sign a liability waiver and given the option of borrowing jackets to fight off the cold and wind of the open water.  However, I always welcome the opportunity for a new adventure and new views of my beloved Bay Area.  While sailing around Angel Island, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, we got to watch the San Francisco skyline glow during a stunning sunset and witness the moon rise. In addition to the beauty and tranquility of the experience, the sailing company gave 40% of the trip's proceeds back to my friend's non-profit and normally gives 10% of all proceeds back to non-profits.  I heart San Francisco.

Departing from Pier 40: Coit Tower and Transamerica Pyramid Aglow

Sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge

Port of San Francisco

My next destinations: DC and Boston

the road trip

Suffice to say, a lot has happened in the past few weeks. I drove across the country with two friends, and I moved across the state. Soon I will post about my new L.A. life, this one is all about the road trip.

To be completely obvious, the U.S. is a pretty amazing country! I previously wrote that the American road trip is the dream. After 12 days in a car, I still believe that. There is nothing like seeing the landscape change, experiencing the different cities and climates, the natural progression of the trip--I feel like it's hard to know the country without driving across it. Although the Southern route in the summer? HOT. Especially from a humidity-fearing Californian like myself.

I still can't decide what my favorite part of the trip was, so here are a few of my favorite photos from the first half:

The drive from Las Vegas to Mesa Verde National Park was surprisingly beautiful--somehow I never thought that the beautiful red rock of the desert could be near Vegas. But it was, and the clouds of the rainy day made for a dramatic drive.

Even though we didn't stop at Lake Powell, driving by it was stunning. Ever since I saw a magazine when I was in high school I've wanted to go. Actually, that's how I pick most of my destinations--a picture in a magazine. Now I can't wait to go back and spend some time here. Maybe on a houseboat.

In Las Vegas we realized that Zion National Park was just a half hour out of the way to Mesa Verde. Time well spent. Although as always--seeing a glimpse of a park just makes me want to go back and see it again.

Our second destination: Mesa Verde National Park. I did not expect it to live up to its name--green table mountains, the setting for Native American cliff dwellings. But it definitely exceeded my expectations... and more.

My next post: Austin and New Orleans.