Second Day: LA

Today was apartment hunt day. (It was also get your ass kicked by jetlag day!) Prior to the trip, we split the city into two quadrants: North LA and South LA. Our Hotel is located in our North LA quadrant, and one of our friends lives in the area. At the start of apartment hunt day, we basically came to the conclusion that apartment day two, South LA, didn’t make any sense; we wanted to live in the North LA quadrant. The vibe of the city is unbelievable and I can’t wait to return. (The countless hours of research were rendered pointless!)

***This jetlag thing really sucks!***

     Long story short, we found some great places and we plan on living in the area North of LA. We drove around and loved the neighborhoods. We met some more great people, who were all extremely courteous and helpful. The prices are perfect and we almost feel like this city is home!

We have gathered enough information, which has been converted into copious notes. Deciding on which apartment/house will eventually be called home is a process which will be completed when we return to Boston. (The selection is plentiful!)

With the apartment hunt completed, we turned day two into tourist day! We traveled to Hollywood, which is fairly close to our target area. We parked in the main lot, which was centrally located.

**I must warn the people who live in the Boston area; you should sit down for this one!**

     The first two hours only cost $2. (There is no typo; it only costs $2 dollars to park in the center of Hollywood!) If that isn’t amazing enough, the maximum you can pay for the entire day, is $10! (We couldn’t believe it!)

Like all good tourists, we purchased fanny packs! (Just kidding!) We entered the Wax Museum and walked through the exhibits. For an extra $2, we gained entrance into the Guinness Book of World’s Records Museum, as well. We then decided to have some sushi which, of course, was delicious.

@Efidalgo12 decided to have his palm read, which was an experience, I guess! I can’t comment because I was asked to patiently wait outside while she performed her, scam, I mean “miracle,” as she put it!

When the magic was over, she asked me if I wanted a turn. I respectfully declined, but when she was persistent and asked again. I replied, “Sorry, I am an atheist and I don’t believe in this.” (I wanted to add the word nonsense, but I decided to be nice!) She understood my position and we left. This world is small, indeed.

While sitting in a chair and waiting for the magic show to end, I was approached by a mother and her daughter. They apologized for being forward, and blamed it on being from the East Coast, which caused me to mention that I was from Boston. (It turns out the woman grew up in Roxbury!)

We walked around a little more and discovered something wonderful. There was a guy who had a large set of speakers and a microphone. He was standing on the busiest corner in Hollywood and yelling at the passersby. He wanted them to listen to the word of the “lord!” The guy shouted for people to believe in Jesus or else they were headed to Hell. My favorite line was when he said, statistics show that there are two hundred and fifty thousand people who have entered eternity! (I kid you not!)

I don’t know what is more amazing, the fact that he had this elaborate set up, or the fact that he had disciples who were helping him hand out followers. We actually stood there for twenty minutes or so, laughing our asses of, while he yelled to the young ladies. He wanted them to give their lives to Jesus and stop living in sin. *I have some video footage, which I will try to post on the blogs Facebook page soon! The hotel’s Wi-Fi, is some new form of dialup/broadband hybrid!*

The insanity level was a little too high so we made the decision to have some drinks at Hooters. (It’s the best way to get all that Jesus talk out of your head!) Hooters was cool; way better than the Coconut Grove Hooters we ate at during my visit to Miami. (Read about that wonderful experience in this previous post! The Greatest Rapper Ever Is Not Dead)

We spent an hour and a half at Hooters then returned to the strip. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and ears. The crazy Jesus guy was still on the corner, yelling at the pedestrians and motorists. His number of disciples grew and they continued to harass the “sinners.” While walking by, one believer handed me a flier, but I respectfully declined. He wondered why, and I replied, “I’m an atheist and I don’t believe in Jesus.”

Here is our conversation, which I was excited to participate in, until I realized that he was an imbecile.

Jesus Freak’s Disciple (JFD): “Why don’t you believe in ‘god’?”

Me: “Because there is no ‘god’!”

JFD: “What do you think happens when you die?”

Me: “Nothing! You just die and that is the end!”

JFD: “Are you willing to gamble with your soul?”

Me: “Yes! I’ll be fine!”

JFD: “Let me ask you something. Do you like your eyes?”

Me: “Sure.”

JFD: “Let me have your eyes for ten thousand dollars.”

Me: “No, I need my eyes!”

JFD: “What about ten million?”

Me: “No, I need my eyes.”

JFD: “You care about your eyes more than your soul?”

Me: “I need my eyes while I am on earth. You can have my eyes for free, when I die.”

[His example was pure nonsense, so I decided to walk away.]

JFD: “Turn to Jesus and don’t gamble with your soul.”

Me: “I’ll be OK!”

[The End!]

I honestly don’t care what others believe, but these are the types of people which necessitate the term, religious freaks!

**I finally downloaded the clip. I’ll post it on Facebook, after I post this entry!**

     Tomorrow will be Tourist Day Two!

@PeteTeix617