KATY'S ADVENTURE FINALE: A LOVE LETTER TO CALIFORNIA AND THE PEOPLE I MET ALONG THE WAY
My last leg - pulling into LA, navigating the train station with my suitcase and accumulation of bags, I book an uber for the 10 min drive to my Airbnb. The city is an assault on the senses and feels abrasive at first - massive, concrete, scruffy, a bit grimy, horns honking - eshhhhh. Nobody honks their horn down in Orange County. My honest first feelings are ‘what the hell am I doing here and why did I leave the coast?!’ My Airbnb is situated in the back of a bungalow on a very steep street, my little room is pretty great - another nice bedroom with a tiny kitchenette and separate bathroom. I unpack (again) and head out to explore.
Turns out on that first day I took the worst possible route down to Sunset Boulevard! Walking down a huge highway, with nobody around and seemingly nothing interesting to see, I was thinking about how I could get out of the city again as fast as possible! Finally I find Sunset Boulevard and although a bit seedy, at least I can see some life; cafes, tattoo studios, lots of street art, uber hipster folks (I fit right in, right?) I take a breath, find a ‘grocery store’ and head back home to settle in for the night amidst thundering storms outside.
The next day, under clear blue skies, I take a different direction up to Silver Lake dog park. Hoorah! Walking through the hilly neighbourhoods is a joy - I love seeing the different styles of houses, glimpses of the arty, bohemian, plant strewn lifestyle of my neighbours. The Silver Lake neighbourhood is lovely - interesting, textured, homely, a visual variety of living, very civilised. People I pass are friendly with an average of three dogs! Silver Lake itself is a large reservoir right there close to the city - with a stunning view of mountains behind it. I take a massive inhale - this is good! The sun is setting, leaving a dusty lilac hue over the tips of the mountains. I walk the entire perimeter to take in the people walking and jogging after work, it feels safe and easy and far away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood less than 3 miles away.
My first 3 days are spent working in my room with breaks for a walk down to Sunset Boulevard - I find one coffee shop where the two men serving sing along to Miley Cyrus (so I stay). When the sun is out I walk up to the incredibly beautiful garden oasis that my Airbnb owners have created - layered gardens, huge lemon trees with hummingbirds flitting around, it's beautiful and I bask in the sun with my very British brew.
Sitting out on the sidewalk at Ceci’s, a little Italian deli, I watch as a homeless man comes around asking if anyone will buy him some food. He’s about to leave when a young black man tells him to wait - he goes in and orders him some food and a coke. I follow his lead and thank him for leading by example, he thanks me in return. I leave feeling humbled and in awe of others' kindness.
My last few days are spent on ‘holiday’ aka exploring! If I could slow time down I would. I walk the 5 miles from where I'm staying across Los Feliz (amazing shops) up to the Griffith Observatory. It’s stunning, with views across the Hollywood Hills, ocean, downtown LA, and right across to Mount Wilson where the moon is rising. Apparently the stars at night up there are phenomenal - next time. I eat tacos in a street side cafe and feel so content, now loving LA life.
Friday I am up at the crack of dawn to make my way over to Santa Monica where I am meeting a woman I have wanted to work with for years; a nature lover, truth teller, deeply present and connected creative person. We drive north of Malibu to Point Dume. I’m still not sure I have found the words to paint a picture of what I experienced but i’ll try. The sea was flat and we could see dolphins out in the bay, the tide was all the way in as we made our way along the incredible rock formations and cascading bluff, settling into a spot where we made a stone circle and I added the treasures I had collected. I read a passage from Rick Rubens’ ‘The Creative Act’ which was beyond apt for how I was feeling. I journaled and Jobi pulled out some of the words I had chosen, creating a beautiful poem or ‘prescription’ for me. I felt such a sense of peace, of being exactly where I am meant to be. We talk, I cry and I release a rock out into the water, one that symbolises the feelings of guilt and regret I have been carrying around with me.
On my last weekend I managed to squeeze in a quick drink and a catch-up with an ex-colleague at the Roosevelt on Hollywood Boulevard, and visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) enjoying the company of Picasso, Monet and Hockney. I sat at the bar in L&E Oysters with the most delicious cornbread and clam chowder and soak up the atmosphere. It strikes me that my trip is book-ended - this scene is how I started my trip, stranded in NYC, happily ensconced on my own at the bar.
I had coffee with a new friend Mauro, where we talked about what it's like to be a human for a couple of hours. His outlook on life is to travel as much as possible, to live in different places if you can, to taste as many flavours as possible ‘if you can you should’. I have felt so inspired by the people I have met on this trip, there have been at least five people who have said things to me that have altered my perspective on how I see the world - I am so grateful, it's one of the things I hoped this investment of time and funds and courage would bring me.
I finish the trip with a deep sense of just how easy this has all been. It's been an investment for sure and I purposefully chose an English speaking country. It has also been such an amazing reminder that travelling alone is not scary, it can be easy and fun and it provides space for new people to cross your path and influence your life. It strikes me that at almost no point have I felt ‘alone’ or lonely. It's been a far more sociable and fun trip than I could ever have anticipated and I've crossed paths with people I will never, ever forget.
The time I have spent hiking or exploring or wandering shops and eating on my own I have loved every second. It gives me so much more confidence and a sense of freedom to know that this is more than doable. If you’re thinking about travelling alone in any capacity I wholeheartedly encourage you to - and contact me for a pep talk! I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again and any nerves I had previously are gone. It felt normal, bringing an ease and freedom that felt liberating.
My new, single, chapter is here and California was the perfect introduction. This experience has changed my life and I am so deeply grateful for it.
Learnings from this trip and the conversations I had:
You’re never too old to explore places alone - or to get a tattoo
A change of scenery and an adventure will stimulate your spirit and reinvigorate your soul, your outlook on life and potentially provide lots of new creative ideas
Stay true to your own heart
Keep looking out for signs - and follow them
If you’re going to hug someone make it the best hug they’ve ever had
There are kind, friendly, beautiful new friends waiting for you all over the globe
“If you can, you should”
Some of the most interesting people you are going to meet are in your future - isn’t that wonderful?
Travelling alone is so much easier and less scary than you might imagine
If you can escape the UK in January for a sunnier climate, February is much more manageable when the buds are coming through!
I have been overwhelmed by the cheerleading and support I have had from YOU whilst embarking on this trip. It really warmed my heart and my cockles so thank you, I appreciate you so very much.
