Day 4 (10/23/2004) Stop 11
Driving Around L.A. (Continued)

After waking up and preparing for the day, we left our motel at Disneyland at about 10 AM (waiting for rush hour to calm down). We headed west down Lincoln Ave and then North on Beach Blvd to arrive at The Movieland Wax Museum (#2 on Map-pictures to come on following pages) in Buena Park. After the 1 hour tour we headed to the intersection of Wilshire Blvd. @ La Brea (route unknown) to where the famous La Brea Tar Pits are located (#3 on Map-pictures to come on following pages). After lunch at a local restaurant, the rest of the afternoon was just spent cruising the famous neighborhoods around: Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, Pacific Coast Highway, and Sunset Blvd in the areas of West Hollywood Hills, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills. Then suddenly without notice at about 3 PM, all the streets turned into instant gridlock. Friday rush hour in Los Angeles! After 4 hours of bumper to bumper gridlock, we decide to get the hell out of the Second Largest Metro Area. No matter what freeway, what direction, it was packed. We traveled on Interstates 405, 105, 110, (state) 91, 605, then back onto 405 to Interstate 5 south. We stated the night in a Holiday Inn Express in the small quaint community of Sam Clemente at the south edge of Orange County.

One thing however, I was exceptionally impressed with the drivers (and all people in general) in how courteous ALL drivers were. In driving around lost on several occasions, I could be in the left lane of a crowded interstate and realize I must exit a quarter mile ahead, a procedure which in Atlanta would be impossible as drivers would intentionally cut you off, but in Los Angeles they would make room as soon as you blinker flashes. This procedure would continue six times so you could cross six lanes of traffic and make the exit. The attitude of most people seemed friendly and helpful. Even fast food employees would go the extra mile and be EXCEPTIONALY Friendly. In Atlanta “What do you want?” is the common attitude in most fast food places. So much for Southern Hospitality, this trip was a truly eye opening experience: everyone was friendly everywhere we went. One of the most edgy experiences was when we stopped for gas. Unknowingly we stopped in the middle of South Central LA at the corner of a street featured in an early 90s rap lyric. Everyone was nice and courteous. What has happened in Atlanta??? Enjoy this picture tour.

Paul J. Lossner