Cali Bound

I have always wanted to go to California. I have heard all about it for years, but every time I decided I was going to check it out, life got in the way. I even considered moving there without ever having visited it back in 2017, but I ended up in NYC. So September of this year I was sitting on my friends couch in Boston and she was telling me something about California. She stopped mid sentence and asked me If I had ever been. When I responded with my usual disappointed “no I have never been to California”, she immediately told me we needed to change that. So without her even finishing the story, I booked a roundtrip ticket for Thanksgiving weekend to LAX. Before the end of the year, I will have touched the west coast of this country. This might have been the most impulsive and expensive trip I ever booked but to me it would all be worth it to mark that one thing off my bucket list that has been lingering for years.

I fly out in the morning on Thanksgiving. I was nervous it would be busy and full of Holiday frenzy people. Contrary to me and my mothers’ worries, both Newark and LAX airports were EMPTY. It was the chillest travel day I have ever encountered. No complaints at all. This was exactly how I wanted to start my trip. Alone.

The view flying over some breath taking Canyons minutes before landing in LAX.

Day 1

I arrive to LAX, take a shuttle to a parking lot near by to get in my Lyft and head to North Hollywood to my friends place. A trip to Starbucks and a quick shower gave me enough energy to catch up with my friends as they all cooked and did not let me help. This was the first Thanksgiving I was a part of that did not involve me touching the stove. I knew I was not going to adjust to the time difference, but was able to sit, eat and then take a nap… Only this napped turned into sleeping for 13 hours. This is very unlike me but starting off this mini vacation that way was freaking fantastic. Absolutely NO regrets.

Day 2 (Black Friday)

I was out in California without a car, which was not a problem since I did not intend to be alone any of the time besides Friday morning, while everyone went to work. I woke up from my food coma and decided to do some exploring, starting in Noho.

It wouldn’t be a trip to LA if I didn’t f*ck up some avocado toast with fruit and coffee. This meal indeed did bring me back to life.

Took a Lyft there for some avocado toast and cold brew then took another Lyft to Santa Monica pier. I learned all about the 110 year old pier and the intentions for La Monica Ballroom, a 15,000-square-foot ballroom made to look like it was floating above the sea. I took the selfies on the pier, changed into my bathing suit and walked down to the beach. It is about a 30 minute walk to Venice beach from the pier. The water was freeeezing and I guess everyone was out Black Friday shopping because I was practically alone.

Santa Monica Pier

Hanging out alone on the beach. Not a care in the world.

Laying out on the beach with no one around was surreal. It was a gorgeous day out without any rough winds and the sand was perfectly still. I could have laid out there for hours, but only had 2 hours this time around. I WILL BE BACK VENICE BEACH. I PROMISE!

After two relaxing hours of tanning my pale winter skin, it was time to Lyft over to The Pottery, the Smoke shop where one of my friends worked. I can’t go to California and NOT take in the legal delicacies of marijuana. During my visit I decided to just buy edibles and a joint. Apparently you are allowed to bring up to 1 oz with you on the flight! I did not know this….too bad I am no longer that kind of stoner and will not be taking advantage of this anytime soon.

I wrapped up the day with a quick night hike at Loop Trail in Griffith Park. During our walk I learned about Coyotes and how you are not allowed to let your dogs off the lease because they will be gone in seconds. This entire hike reminded me of the episode in New Girl where they go out to the mountains, lose the keys and go out to look for them, then run into a coyote. I thought about this scene and was so freaked out that I made sure the next hikes would be in the morning or at least day time.

Day 3

The next morning, we were up early to take on Hike #2. The views were just…

I was so happy!

I planned a brunch with some college friends over in Burbank, which is a very unique city in Los Angeles County that has their own rules when it comes to smoking. In Burbank, you are not allowed to smoke in the streets at all. There are signs and everything to ensure that stoners do not walk around tarnishing its reputation. When I asked my friends what they thought about this place they just responded by saying, “Burbank is weird.” It is considered once of the nicest places to live in California.

^{Random fact: The city is named after David Burbank, a dentist who traveled west in the mid-1800s with intentions of buying land and raising sheep. Now it’s a bunch of uptight people that do not want to conform to California’s laid back ways.}

Shortly after brunch, we headed to Beverly Hills. Which was basically window shopping, walking and feeling absolutely fabulous!

Next on the list: a mini roadtrip to Long Beach where I literally ate the BEST PIZZA I HAVE EVER HAD at an emo bar called The 4th Horseman. It was like walking into a haunted house that was a bar / restaurant at the same time. I mean, I watched Chucky and was forced to listen to very loud and scary screamo, while enjoying the most amazing pizza EVER.

I hate screamo more than anything in this world. I had to go to the bathroom but was too scared, that I had to wait for the music to stop in between songs to run to the bathroom.

Day 4

Hike #3 on the last day brought me to the Hollywood sign, which is a must! It was by far the longest and toughest hike of the trip but the view was worth it. Every milestone was a beautiful site of Los Angeles. Since it was my first time, I felt like I needed to see the Hollywood sign. After all, being outdoors is one of my favorite ways to explore, especially while traveling. So hike # 3 on my last day did just that- 3.5 miles up and 3.5 miles down. Right afterwards, we swung by the Hollywood stars and Chinese Theater, I got to put my hands in Meryl Steps hands and purchased all of my corny souvenirs from a continued black Friday sale. WINNING! This store is normally $10 everything, but now was $5 for everything, and they literally had everything related to LA.

The sun was very bright this day.

I was exactly 6 months and a day old when Meryl Streep made her mark here. Coincidence? I think NOT!

I walked up and down one side of Hollywood and saw so many amazing stars that will not be forgotten.

Even though I was not dressed for the part, I certainly felt the famous vibes along the Boulevard!

Since the sun sets so early we were not able to do what I REALLY wanted to go to the West Coast for, driving up the PCH to Malibu. However, I did pack my bags early and we started our final night adventure in West Hollywood, which is apparently “taken over by the gays” (as my friend Tilly said who lives there and is actually gay).

This is what my Venice night cap at a fancy spot before getting dropped off at LAX, looked like.

The coolest bar in Venice lead me to the most DELICIOUS desert that put me to sleep during my 6 hours flight back to NYC.

You can see the sleepiness already kicking in…

Taking a flight as midnight allows you to enjoy you full day, and sleep on the plane on your way there, not disrupting the time change too much. I was able to go home after flying in around 7 am, take a nap before going to work.

“My heart cried out for you, California.”

Joni Mitchell

California did not disappoint. I saw so much but at the same time barely made a dent on the adventure that I imagine myself doing there. Can’t wait to come back!

XO Ashley

Brooklyn Bound during 2020 Global Pandemic

Hi there!

Day 65 of Quarantine in the Big Apple and the party is just getting started!  The days are long and observing out the window seems to be on repeat. I am being ordered by the Governor Cuomo to stay indoors and my field of work is not considered essential. I have been out of work for 2 months now and have been keeping busy everyday. I know, it could be way worse and I am thankful to still be able to be in New York during this time as a vegan diabetic dancer.

The center of the world. The ground zero. An island I will not get to see in such peaceful condition, due to being stuck in Bedstuy. Brooklyn vibes feel like any other regular day. Besides the streets being less busy, people in Brooklyn are living normal lives with masks on.

Ambulance sirens still fill the silence throughout the night and grocery stores run out of random products yet are restocked daily. Rumor has it, that the family dollar near me restocks their cleaning products like lysol and clorox wipes daily and by 10 am they are sold out. However, vitamins are still filling up the isles as if we do not need a strong immune system. To each their own right?

Hanging out on my rooftop wearing flip flops and a coat…

The sky is clear and the city is crisp. You can see stars and every flying object over the city.  When it is cloudy, the bridges light up and you can see colors projected above us.  Barely any flights are heard as much. It truly makes me want to get a telescope and sit out on the roof for as long as possible. Be blessed if you have access to the outdoors without being expose to possible COVID-19 strands.

I hear stories of beaches opening up in other places then being trashed by humans in Florida…. meanwhile, in New York, the cops patrol to make sure there is social distancing happening at the parks. Nature has re-surfaced and made almost everything pure and clear again. Humans are not longer causing so much pollution and our planet is actually more quiet. Isn’t that a beautiful thing? I think that it will only  Aliens have appeared on multiple occasions, or is it a distraction from the government while they built 5G towers?

Masks…no masks… MASKS. Wear mask or get a ticket. Also,  no one can deliver food to you from the grocery stores or amazon because there are not enough employees wanting to travel to Brooklyn, where people spit on you, to make hundreds of deliveries. Nonetheless, Brooklyners are making the best of the situation and enjoying the outdoors more than we used to. Even though the weather is all over the place due to the natural reset that world is going through, we are no longer hermits sitting in our cozy apartments.

Support local business!

Clementine Bakery located on Franklin Avenue in Bedstuy has turned into an all purpose shop. From baked goods to fresh produce, greeting cards and more. Their collection of plants is soothing to be under while shopping around and social distancing.

Fresh Quinoa Bowl featuring groceries from Clementine’s!

The best part of staying indoors for me is working out, eating fresh homemade food, and taking care of my plants.

Meet my babies!

While people are adopting animals left and right from shelters, some of us have a new passion for plants! Caring for plants is not as simple as water and sunlight. Throughout this shelter in place experience, I have learned about the different types of plant and how their environment and water intake varies. I am no botanist but I do know more about plant habitat than I did prior.

During this time where we have the privilege on focusing on ourselves and in a way forces to vacation. I urge you to ignite your true passions and let them take you towards your next adventure.

See you next time!

XO Ashley