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The day ended here in the Hyatt Regency room 758 in the North Tower, with us tired out, mostly packed, and in bed. Sleep was broken by the usual is-it-time-to-get-up-and-fly worry. Including tomorrow, the trip has been 14 days in California, in Orange County.

We ended the trip on a strange note. Pete, our Uber driver from the La Brea area, offered us mints, water, and changes to the AC for the long journey across LA back to OC. The price to the La Brea Tar Pits was about $60, but with the adjustment for rush hour, our trip back was around $100, as we waited until 7 before ordering a ride in the Uber app. We had to pack, and we were both getting tired. Eventually, we took the first trip for $100 (with some offers for an early time approaching $200).

We walked to The Grove (and discovered that The Farmer’s Market was also there) from the La Brea Tar Pits, as it promised dinner, shopping, a possible movie, and a place to rest. LA is often like one long set of strip malls that never seem to stop. The barred windows and closed shops are frequently mixed with other shops that look excellent. In the Uber we took, we saw that Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue were the end of an interesting neighborhood, featuring food joints and many Jewish services. I may need to take a winter trip and explore this area.

The Farmer’s Market was wonderful, located near The Grove, a high-end mall that seems to appear unexpectedly between lesser strip malls, and featured live music and excellent food. We walked the Market until after getting a more industrial dinner/snack at a higher-end restaurant, sticking primarily to Happy Hour items. Unlike Seattle or Portland, this one was open until 9 at night on work nights. Here is the website: Farmer’s Market Website.

Deborah’s phone was slowly dying. We switched to mine for maps. We walked for about an hour from the La Brea Tar Pits to The Grove and Farmer’s Market. We stopped by Craft Contemporary on our walk to visit their gift shop. We also enjoyed some of the LA County Museum of Art’s outdoor pieces (it was getting too late to get a ticket for LACMA).

Before all this, we took a cheaper Uber (the driver did not speak much English) for the seventy-minute trip to La Brea Tar Pits. It was a comfortable ride, but we initially did not spot the car at the hotel, and then we saw a car just waiting (it went from three minutes to there in seconds on the app). We arrived in the La Brea area, crossing from Orange County to Los Angeles. While traveling, we noticed a considerable amount of smoke in downtown LA, and we later learned it was not protests but a local fire. Getting out of the car, we immediately noticed the billboards for Smerfs and the smell of tar. I am not sure how they are connected.

The stuff is, as advertised, oozing out of the ground, and when we walked over some of the grass, it had a spongy feeling that got us to remain on the paths. There were also signs to keep your pets leashed, which in this area was a good idea. The owner and pet could become part of a permanent exhibit!

We were walking in one area, and a stake used to close off the area, which resembled a rain ditch, had the black substance come out of the ground. It would not be a place I would want to tread. There were also multiple pits of the black stuff and a lake of groundwater pooled over the sticky stuff. There were some models of mammoths stuck in the tar to add to the drama. It all smelled of petroleum and worse.

The museum is a collection of bones reassembled and descriptions of all the now-extinct animals that once roamed the area. The sabertoothed cat, a tiger, and giant elephants were reassembled and even modeled in life-like reconstructions. Even insects, fish, and birds fell to the stickiness.

There was a colossal skull, tusks, and the staff in a lab washing and cleaning more of the elephant-like bones. Wow! I got some postcards and a book on the history of the area. It was all interesting. I have always wanted to see this place where the goo pops out of the ground.

Once we had enjoyed enough of the bones, goo, and looking at the pits, we discovered a Mexican place nearby. There we had some chips and a few drinks. We rested for a bit, and the bartenders were friendly.

And from there we headed to The Grove, not knowing the Farmer’s Market was in the same area. That closes the circle. Thanks for reading!

Headed home on Friday. Deborah is flying back to the Detroit area, and I am headed to Beaverton, Oregon.

Joyce Hill, Susie’s aunt and the supplier of Zabar’s bagels to me all these years, passed away unexpectedly, and I will be heading to celebrate her life next week. When I write this blog, I always think of her reading it and all the fun comments she would make. I will miss her!

 

 

We went slow in the morning with breakfast acquired by Deborah from Starbucks. I rose at about 7 with Deborah up earlier and making coffee. We had a 12:40 Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel. It was a hot day in Anaheim (much more comfortable, to our surprise, at Huntington Beach), and we decided to get an Uber to Goofy’s Character Breakfast (and I just learned that Uber dropped the Ü, ugh!).

We arrived early and were able to explore and shop again. I have not been at these hotels in years, and it was interesting to see how they have been renewed for a new group of guests. They did not seem faded anymore. Like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” they now seem like a historical item that you enjoy seeing preserved and still in use.

(Later at the beach)

We were not the only adult couple in line for the Character Breakfast and were joyfully received and treated well by the cast members. Goofy greeted us for a photo (complimentary), and then we were seated, and soon Chip and Dale visited us. Pluto was also there and was happy to stop by (the sous-chef we learned). Minni Mouse would stop by later with repeat visits from the others.

Deborah finally got her Micky Mouse waffles (only available on the kids’ menu so far). The spread was a mix of lunch and breakfast, with lots of sweet offerings for anyone who wanted chocolate cake for breakfast. The bread pudding was excellent. The food, although buffet-style, was well-prepared and served in smaller portions. I got lots of things on two smaller plates; it seemed to fit the theme. Deborah was enchanted, and we both found our inner kids were happy and jumped up to see the next character. Goofy’s Character Breakfast is recommended.

 

We got a taxi driven by an East African immigrant, Osmon, back to our hotel. He waited for us for no charge. Osmon was happy to drive us to Huntington Beach and regaled us about the area and the cost of houses. While his trip cost more than an Uber, the car was comfortable, and it felt safe. The distance is about the same as the airport, and so the price was what we paid for our first ride – not cheap, but not terrible.

(To my surprise, this is not a joke sign. Apparently, chumming near the beach is considered unwise for the swimmers and surfers)

We called to be dropped off at Huntington Beach, and Osmon got us there without issue. It was another perfect California day, but the breeze was cool near the Pacific, and we did not feel the sun strike us while on the pier or on the beach. We walked the pier to the end and sat inside at the Broad Street Oyster Company and had some cold Diet Cokes and shared a bowl of clam strips and watched the folks fishing.

I saw a splash and a flash of white. The beach was shut down a few days ago after a Great White was seen jumping out of the water. Soon, there were more splashes, and it was two pods of Dolphins, apparently fishing too. It was an absolute joy to see them. Not a shark.

We walked back down the pier with Deborah and I investing in a few more items at a shop. We then walked the long march to the sea after removing our shoes, and for me, my socks as well. The bag for all the items purchased soon held our footwear.

The waves were tall enough to be over the heads of folks standing on the sand. We stayed in the shallows, but a few times the water splashed us good. At first, it seemed cold, but soon it was a comfort. Not Oregon’s cold Pacific waters that hurt to stand in.

We walked on the beach, and some folks were catching mole crabs (I know them as sand fleas). Deborah got to touch one and then saw how they dig in and realized they are everywhere in the surf. It is one of my favorite things to watch in the surf (from a distance in the cold Pacific Northwest waters). It was a marvelous time in the light surf.

We tried Fred’s Mexican Food for lunch/dinner. We were in the sun and we both felt off. We are unsure whether it was the heat, the margaritas, or the food. The Uber back was not well air-conditioned, and that did not improve things.

I spent the rest of the early evening with my colon demonstrating how much it could hold (and release) and nearly reversing the mararita process (which would have been most unpleasant). I managed to recover without causing a mess. Deborah and I just read, napped, and finally slept.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

We again had no plans that required an early start, and I managed to drag out the start of our day, making coffee, until just around 7. It was another bright day in California, with the clouds burning off quickly, and the temperature reached a hot 86°F (30°C). We decided to have breakfast at the hotel’s buffet, as it was convenient, and the omelet service was excellent. I had a bit of everything: some smoked salmon, some yogurt, a poached egg on ham with Hollandaise sauce, and pastries. Expensive, but still good, and some options are better than the usual industrial breakfast I get for free at some places.

We planned only one item for the day, and that was an Über trip to the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. There resided the famous helicopter that was used by the presidents in the late 1960s and early 70s, with the image of Nixon at the end of his time as President at the helicopter still in my memory (though the TV was black and white–I remember it in color from all the later photos and newsreels). I was also hoping to get some postcards and small Nixon tchotchkes (yes, I have to look up how to spell that every time).

The ride was complex, as two or more Uber drivers rejected our trip because it was headed to a less touristy and business-oriented area, Yorba Linda. We finally got a driver and took the thirty-minute trip to the library. We passed by the A’s baseball stadium on the way. The traffic was heavy but fast-moving (and a bit crazy). I missed driving the Air VW the Gray in LA traffic (despite the craziness that is LA driving), but the cost and extra time were prohibitive.

Aside: For those EV enthusiasts, four hotel nights and a $40-per-day hotel charge are required to pick up and keep the car here. Charging when not using the Free CalTrans stops is about a $37 charge. I only drive eight hours, and it is 20+ to get home to Beaverton. Meaning two extra days on the start and end of the trip. However, it is still an incredible drive.

The Nixon Presidential Library was neat and organized (not quite my image of his Presidency). The Pat Nixon Rose Garden reminded me of the White House and Mrs. Nixon, who seemed to be everywhere at once during their stay. Both the late president and Pat are buried there, and we were surprised to find that the house where Nixon was born is still standing and has been incorporated into the library and museum. The parking lot and house are the original Nixon farm, and the house was built by his father from a kit.

The helicopter was showing signs of needing some care, and I learned that it would soon be shipped back to an Air Force facility for protection and refurbishment. The sitting out in the sun here had caused it to age quickly. I was told that the Presidential library is trying to fund the building of an indoor place for the helicopter and a cafeteria. I mentioned that the Chicago museums had to do the same with U-505, which had aged poorly in the open elements and is now protected underground, looking quite impressive and fully restored. We took some photos of ourselves by the helicopter.

Next, we were going backwards, which startled the docents (we had planned to go outside first, as the day promised to be hot), to the house. I was initially unimpressed, as it appeared to be the same as many historical homes I have visited, and populated with items just to fill up the space. However, we learned that 90% of the items were retrieved from storage, and we were able to see the actual items the family used. Wow! The musical instruments were the ones that the family (including Richard Nixon) used. The house had been partially rebuilt, but the lines were still there (the most you can hope for from this period). The docent shared that one of the president’s brothers explained to her that it was not Richard’s violin but the one he borrowed from his brother.

After that, we took the more typical tour of a politician’s life, except that the items were mostly real. We also noticed that Nixon’s bad moments were less of a focus (such as his poor showing in the first televised Presidential debates). We learned that during World War II, Nixon was a scrounger (his own words) and created Nick’s Snack Shop to provide burgers and beers for the troops in transition while he was involved in transportation for the Pacific War. Later, we were told, folks wondered what happened to Nick.

The rise of Nixon was a mix of successes and failures, reaching unprecedented heights, and then making terrible choices in Vietnam and on the world stage. Watergate is covered, as is the 18 1/2-minute gap in the famous tapes. Apparently, the tape still exists, and advanced recovery efforts have yet to locate the lost words, but there is hope, according to the library, that someday technology will enable recovery. I can see a new Kaggle contest starting for this someday, when a careful scan of the tape is released to the public.

Deborah sat in the Oval Office behind the recreated Wilson Desk while I got her the phone. We saw photos later that matched the reconstruction. Always a treat, I understand, at Presidential Libraries.

The displays were well done and worth multiple trips, I thought. We were tired from walking and skipped the additional shows on Ancient Egypt and another one on Women’s Rights. There is also music on the weekends.

All the Docents were dressed in suits or dresses that would be suitable for a White House reception. The gift store had a range of gifts, but the huge, nearly $40 bobble-head Nixon was not coming home with me. I picked up some small items and a pile of postcards. I buy strangely themed mints, and a pack of Nixon Now! mints seemed to fit my memory of the place.

An Über soon had us back, but it was nearly 2 and we had no food (yes, they need a cafeteria at the Nixon Library). I had a nap after we picked up Starbucks for sandwiches (with my grilled cheese upgraded to ham and cheese as they were out of just cheese). We spent the afternoon relaxing.

Buca di Beppo was a place I had always wanted to try, but the food portions were family-sized and not suitable for two people. We decided we could reheat some later. It was just a block walk, and the heat at 6:30 was down to the low 80s. We were happy to get the kitchen table and watch the food preparation as well as to talk to the staff while they worked. They seemed pleased to have an audience.

I was shocked by the size of the servings. I do not have that many bowls of that size at my house! I wish we had one in our area, as the leftovers would be great for a week!

We ordered some wine, the smaller salad (we took half back with us), enough garlic bread to feed three tables, and three full-sized stuffed chicken breasts. All the food was flavorful and well-made. We had no pasta items, but the baked items were tasty.

Stuffed we returned, managed to reorgaznie the frig and contain our wealth of leftovers, and soon were sleeping early. Just two full days remaining of our trip. And while we have loved the time together, home is calling us both back. But we will be in Iceland and the Detroit area in July.

Thanks for reading.

We did not get up early on Monday, and we did not rush off to Disney. We spent a relaxing morning together and did not head to Downtown Disney until 10ish. We did rise again around 6:30 with coffee made in our room. This is our compromise wake-up time between East and West Coast times. The coffee, this is a Hyatt in Orange County, is a liberal and a rainforest-supporting brand pod with a little green stamp on it. Love the taste of liberal in the morning!

We pre-ordered our items at Starbucks, and I dressed and picked them up. We enjoyed them, cleaned up, enjoyed some time together, and then headed out. We were going to use the Orange County bus system, but the shuttle had a 15-minute wait, and somehow we still had passes for it. We took the mid-morning bus with folks who had started later to Disney and were buried under a load of kids, strollers, and various water and food items. Deborah smiled and remembered those days with the kids in Florida.

We got off the bus and walked towards Downtown Disney for lunch and some shopping. We also took pictures of folks in front of the various signs and displays. We were relaxed and not in a hurry. We soon found the huge Disney store, which had everything except for the 70th anniversary Starbucks cups and the bottle openers we had seen in the park. Deborah found some gifts, and we both had a cold chicken salad and Diet Coke, which came to over $70. Yes, we were still in Anaheim!

Deborah found something at the Star Wars shop and resisted the Legos. It was 84°F (29°C), and our feet and legs reminded us that the rest we purported to be having on Monday was not quite restful. Yesterday was our easiest day, with my iPhone recording just under 12,000 steps. We headed to the shuttle and, after a short wait, caught the shuttle back. The loading and unloading of families differed, as the children were either sleeping or sleepy. The driver said, “Enjoy your nap,” as we unloaded.

We napped and rested a while. I acquired more postcards at the hotel store as they are the most varied and cheapest ones I have found so far in the Orange County area. However, I finally saw Disney postcards, but they were small copies of art and cost $15 each! I did not acquire any.

We were ready to try the bus, but the shuttle was available, so we took it instead. We then walked out of Disney and headed to the Garden Walk Anaheim outdoor mall. There, we learned that the House of Blues is open Thursday to Sunday — it was closed. There is also an AMC movie theater, and we chose the Cheesecake Factory, as Deborah had not eaten there before. I startled Deborah by picking seats at the bar, my usual, and we then ordered Happy Hour drinks and potstickers as Deborah’s meal. I opted for the “skinny” menu’s beef medallions. We also tried the Key Lime Cheesecake. Deborah was surprised by the vast array of cheesecake options for the first time.

We bought tickets for the 7:15 showing at AMC for the new John Wick movie (going backwards in the story and landing between films three and four in the series), Ballerina. While we liked it, Deborah thought that the movie lost its momentum towards the end, with repetitive fight scenes that did not advance the plot. I agreed with Deborah, there was seemingly endless playing with flame throwers to impress the audience, but after a few uses, some story elements could have been added. But a fun movie, and it was nice to see the World of John Wick brought back.

We found the mall nearly empty, and with it, the complex ups and downs seemed like they would erupt at any moment, with John Wick of the Ballerina appearing. But we made it out safe. We found an OC Bus and managed to make the tickets work. The bus driver was unhelpful and even unfriendly.

We were home and in bed, our latest at 11ish. Sleep came fast.

Thanks for reading. Sorry, I forgot to take any helpful pictures on Monday.

 

When we bought two days at the parks in California, we got the third day for free as a bonus. Today was our bonus day at Disneyland. We were still up early and caught the first shuttle to the park, arriving soon to be in line for the rope drop. The lines were interesting, as the ones closest to the security were the most crowded. We walked to the shorter lines in the center. It seems to me the lines were ordered by most FOMO.

We waited twenty minutes for the ropes to be dropped. We were headed to the uninteresting Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland rides, as we had never seen a ride wait shorter than thirty minutes on Friday. There was a sign that read, “Made it to the Rope Drop,” which you could hold and take a picture.

We headed out with the crowd, which ran to the Castle, and some jumped around us. And then they stopped in the castle. It was the line for Peter Pan! Why it was a thing, I don’t know. We then headed to Alice in Wonderland, but it broke down before we could get on. Dumbo also failed. Smugglers Run was still up, and we caught that. We were the gunners with a family that took pilot and engineer slots — I think this is my favorite ride. We were surprised that the Star Wars area was nearly empty, but we did draw the attention of the Storm Troopers and were harassed. We had meant to return to the area later, but my back started to hurt in the afternoon, and we left the park in mid-afternoon. We had seen everything, and it was hot, and two days of endless walking were taking a toll.

We did the famous Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance as the wait was less, and we finished it even faster. Deborah had started to time things as we were wondering about the times. It seemed that Star Wars rides were shorter than reported, but the more basic rides were often underestimated in length.

Storm Trooper: “If there is one Jedi left, IT IS NOT YOU!”

BTW: The same colors as Air VW, the Gray. I suspect that is CarPlay on the screen.

We headed to Space Mountain to find it broken down. We decided on the Astro Grill for an early lunch and enjoyed some decent food. We both googled older pictures of Tomorrowland to see what was still here and what it initially looked like while we enjoyed the interestingly priced chow.

Space Mountain returned to function, and I could hear Deborah laughing the whole ride. It is still one of the best rides in Disneyland. We got a good picture this time.

While it said it was only 82°F (28°C), the cement and the reflections seemed to increase the temperature. We started to flag. We did finally find the Poah ride and did that one. Today was our bonus day, and we didn’t have a careful plan. The crowds were larger, and breakdowns were non-stop at the park today.

Here is a little music while we tried to find a comfortable place to sit (they were all taken).

Somewhere in the ride, we got to do another chance at Buzz Lightyear, and somehow my 100K+ score was zeroed in the picture. The ride kept stopping, and I just kept shooting.

We did some shopping, but Deborah was unable to find the Star Wars-themed bottle opener she was looking for. I found a New Order red colored umbrella that I now needed to carry all the time and even carry through security at the airport (at first I went to return it as it would not be welcome on a plane and then realized I cannot be the first to be at the airport with one of these!). I still got it.

We tried the Nemo ride, and it’s not for those who wonder what could happen when many people are crammed into a small boat/sub and the hatch is closed. However, it was fun and featured a little Nemo story, which was much longer than most of the themed rides.

We got a pass for the Haunted House as our last ride. When we got in the Doom Buggy. The umbrella was nearly lost as it slid to one side and began to protrude from the car. I just managed to save it with my feet (my arms were locked in by the bar at this time). Once that was done, I enjoyed our last ride at Disneyland.

The walkout is long and hot. We shopped a few times, but Disney Downtown sells all the stuff, and hopefully, the desired bottle opener will be located and acquired. Monday, we promised ourselves would be a restful and quiet day with minimal walking! Deborah has a late breakfast with characters planned for Wednesday. One of the things we did not get done was taking pictures with the characters. We missed getting back to the meeting with Darth Vader — I am sure that would have gone well (see Empire HR Discussion on this here).

We rested the rest of the day and had industrial pizza and Deborah’s good salmon nearby for dinner. We then went to bed, sore and tired, and slept soundly through the night.

My dreams included walking through fields of plants on a personal tour at Disney, where I would learn about the sources of their lovely plantings, while getting increasingly sunburned.

Thanks for reading!