My weekend was very successful. My presentations went well, I went to some interesting conference sessions, got to know my co-workers better. I also feel that I got a well-rounded Southern California experience. I don't get to travel much to places in the US where I've never been before. I seem to head to the same cities to visit friends, so it was great to visit a new place and new friends. Now I feel I have not been giving California its due.
One afternoon my two friends and I, after our presentations, rented a car and drove down to San Diego, to go to The Zoo. (Which is how we thought of it, with capital letters, because it is the pinnacle of all other zoos; the zoo to which all others aspire.) It took us forever to get there, or so we felt. So I drove in LA (and south), used the carpooling lanes, ate at an In-N-Out Burger, and made it to The Zoo around 3 pm. This gave us three hours to be overwhelmed by cuteness (and to get a little lost) from orangutans, monkeys, tortoises, pandas, koalas, etc. We all loved The Zoo. We then went to the Gaslight District of San Diego and had Mexican food (and fish tacos). We made it back to Anaheim in time to see the fireworks bursting over Disney.
Saturday, between sessions and dinner, my friend and I went to Downtown Disney, so we could say we did something Disney while we were there. It was lamer than I even thought possible. BUT. The premiere of the latest Pirates of the Caribbean was starting. So we watched some lesser celebrities enter. Including Janice Dickinson. Which was hilarious and bizarre. Then my friend and I went to the extremely long final dinner, where many plaques were given out and there was a long joke about Jurgen Habermas. Because that's how dorky my field is.
Sunday was icing on the cake. I got picked up Briana and taken to an adorable French bistro in Venice, down the street from her apartment. It was so great to meet her in person. She is even cooler than I thought possible. And she showed me a little LA, to completely round out my SoCal experience. I'm just sad we only had a couple hours to chat. Now I've got another city I must keep as an option for further trips.
(All photos courtesy of my friend Shana.)
Very cool. I wish I had interesting co-workers like that.
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | May 21, 2007 at 10:53 AM
Sounds like a fun trip, Claire.
Did the pandas seem vicious? :)
Posted by: Jennifer | May 21, 2007 at 11:17 AM
No, just hungry. :)
Posted by: Claire | May 21, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Claire! Glad you had fun. Southern California is just great. Or was, when I was there a few years back. I actually like every part of CA I've ever been to. Still doesn't beat New York City to me, but it's a close 2nd. I'd love to get back out there.
Wasn't Venice Beach cool? I really liked it there.
Great cute, vicious panda shot!
Posted by: blue girl | May 21, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Yes, next time you need to come back for longer... I mean, c'mon - why go to China when you can hang out with me on the 405FWY for an hour?
It was such a treat to spend the morning with you. Come back, little Sheba.
Posted by: Briana | May 21, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Bri, I so wished we had more time. Thanks for driving me around. I'll definitely let you know when I plan my trip to SF.
Posted by: Claire | May 21, 2007 at 01:47 PM
i don't miss the 405, but I sure do miss Venice Beach! Which French place did you eat? I bet it was really close to where I used to live. Now I'm all sad :( It's grey here, and I miss Venice. *sigh*
I Am glad you had a good time, though!
Posted by: amy | May 21, 2007 at 02:13 PM
You have to watch those pandas. They lure you in with their huggably soft fur and then they lick you and you think it's all just fun, when they are really tasting you. I have lost too many to the vile panda.
California has its charms, but so do pandas. BEWARE!
Posted by: Chuckles | May 21, 2007 at 06:38 PM
Pandas are similar to boyfriends then, huh Chuckles?!
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | May 22, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Hmmmm I don't recall getting an email that you'd be in LA. Oh well, glad to hear you had fun and seemed to get to loads of places.
Oh and BTW, I may have been able to get your Habermas joke. My field is that dorky too--
Vanessa (from the J Ritter board)
Posted by: Vanessa | May 28, 2007 at 09:42 PM