April 15, 2014
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The Mother Road's End
Santa Monica exists in at least three different forms: UCLA and its attendant cultural features; the beach and its hotel/condo appendages and the Pier, with all that goes in, under and around its overarching presence.
I came here, to the end of Rte. 66, the beginning of I-10, and another few stops on the Pacific Coast Highway, just as a most respectable conglomerate of human beings had settled in for a day’s excitement at Pacific Park.
Except for my jaunt over the pedestrian part of the bridge to downtown, however, I not once felt crowded. There seemed to be a fairly even distribution among the various parts of this particular land’s end.
As always in a coastal town, I started my visit on the beach.
It was nearly deserted on this end, but there would be a fair number sunning themselves, closer to the Pier. Still, the hotel/condo area, east of the beach, looked well-peopled.
Casa del Mar is a bit rich for my blood, yet, but like other venerable places, would be worth exploring its lobby and grounds at some point. Another feature of west LA that I’d like to spend a day on, is the canal system. Venice has more, in keeping with its eponymity to the grand Italian city, but this one in Santa Monica has a certain sweep to it.
After trekking across what seemed as desolate as the Sahara, I came upon- THE PIER! Looking at this horizontal edifice so often on NCIS, Los Angeles and Southland, I had to experience the end of Mid-America’s rainbow for real.
There were lots more people on the other side, as that is where the ticket booths for Pacific Park happen to be. Then, too, the rides were full.
I have been on quite a few roller coasters in my time, though only one or two Ferris wheels. When all is said and done, the waves and the water are what brings me contentment, in a place like this.
So, the Mother Road had to end somewhere, and the grand adventures that many seem to seek at Pacific Park dovetailed nicely with the end of this line from Chicago.
One could always just hop a boat and continue on to Santa Catalina, and some one of these days I will, but on that March 22 afternoon, I was content standing atop a mass of pilings.
It was after an hour or so, with LA’s core in mind, that I left the iconic pier and trudged over the bridge,
past the hotel of song and secrets,
and an inviting garden path,
to my trusty car, which was too dirty to photograph. Oh, and I did take a photo of the Santa Monica snake charmer, his boa and a brave, but petrified, college coed. In the interests of the sensibilities of some of my most loyal readers, I have left that one in my Flickr account.
I would find that the Page Museum, near LACMA, was closed when I got to Museum Row, and I was exhausted anyway, so it was on to El Monte, and a healthy Chinese meal at Ming Yuen Restaurant (“You no need white rice this time of day!”), followed by deep slumber at a Budget Inn.
NEXT: San Gabriel, Part 1: Mission Playhouse and Downtown
Comments (6)
Great view of Santa Monica beach! It looks as if the beach was pretty crowded to the north of the pier. I love the photos of the pier activity, and of the pilings underneath!
Another time you're in Santa Monica, it's a short drive through Malibu to the Point Mugu area -- some of the prettiest coastline in So Cal! It's also close to the Getty Center, an art museum above the 405 freeway known both for its art collection and its architecture. And the Page Museum is well worth seeing if you're in that area again -- I hope you had a chance to see the tar pits!!
I love the travelogue! It makes me want to return to CA and take in the sights we missed on our last trip (venturing just into CA on the eastern border)!
the park on the pier was called Pacific Ocean Park or P.O.P.
I've been going since I was a little kid and when I was about 10yrs old my older brother said that they saw a black girl and a white guy together and they were a couple I said"how can that be"? he said they were holding hands and kissing and I said,"what?" kind of the same thing when he told me about two guys were a couple when I was a lot older. LOL Times have changed and I remember they had a skeleton and it turned out to be a real skeleton of a dead carnie who disappeared.
I rode the merry go round before the movie Sting was made with remember?
Such a beautiful and memorable journey. For you and me Gary, I love the beaches and the waves and the blue of the ocean, and anytime I can see pictures of that, I longingly look at them.
And thanks for not posting the S-Charmer with the reptile.
That beach looks huge.
Janet, I agree that between Malibu and Port Hueneme is some spectacular coastline. I have been to the Getty, though it's been many years. I spent quite a bit of time at La Brea Tar Pits, when I visited LACMA, two years ago. The Page is very much on my list for next time out.
Jill, it is officially called Pacific Park now. I'm glad all enjoy the travelogue style.
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