Musings from LA

Ok, I've been in Los Angeles for over a week now and am starting to get a feel for where everything is in the city and the lifestyle here. So, these are some of the things I noticed:

1) Traffic is EVERYWHERE and it SUCKS!!

Every highway you go on, you will likely find traffic in and around the city. During rush hour, it is the worst. If you think getting off the highway and going through the city is better, think again! Lights make it even worse and there are just as many cars driving.

2) The weather is GORGEOUS!

No, not Gorges like Ithaca, you won't find many of those here. However, aside from the morning cloud cover that comes in off the Pacific Ocean, there is bountiful sunshine and warm temperatures every day. The best part: ZERO HUMIDITY! You never feel very sweaty or tired from being outside. It's the polar opposite of the East Coast.

3) "It's not smog, It's fog!"

Or so the people from LA believe. From everyone I've talked to here, the people of LA do not like to think that it's smog that prohibits people from enjoying the skyline and mountains. Instead, they claim it is a "marine layer" that comes in off the water. Sorry LA, with the amount of cars driving around, it's most definitely smog!

4) People here are much friendlier than in New York City

The polar opposite factor comes into effect here again. In New York City, everyone is in a hurry and very often unpleasant. While there are definitely some of that kind in LA, most people I've run into are much nicer. One lady let us stay parked in a lot after 6:00 without having to pay an extra $10. If you see that in NYC, go out and buy a lottery ticket because you definitely have some major luck!

5) Everything is so spread out

To get anywhere worthwhile in LA, you will have to drive a decent distance. From where we I am in the Oakwoods, the only things you can really walk to are Warner Brothers Studios, NBC Studios, and part of Universal Studios. Everything else is a drive, and a decent one at that. For every minute of normal driving time, you can add another 3-5 here at best. Basically, when looking from above, Hollywood is North, Downtown LA (Dodger Stadium, Staples Center, Big Skyscrapers) is East, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica is West, and Los Angeles International Airport is South.

Will get some pictures up from my apartment soon! Check back soon as well for my final decision on the two internships I will be doing in LA!