You’ve heard about all the stereotypes of the Southern California lifestyle. That it’s all about image, the car you drive, what zip code or area code you live in, how much money you make, dreamers, smog, disasters, traffic, sunsets, beaches and where you get your hair cut. Well, it’s all true. But there’s more to palm trees and the Hollywood sign. The following photos are ones I reluctantly took while living in SoCal. I didn’t want to be perceived as a tourist. See all of my pics at http://dawn2dawnphotography.com/
Yes indeed, the sunsets are awesome if somewhat warped.The smog is actually better. A lighter shade of brown.And the Santa Monica Pier is not the only pier in SoCalHuntington Beach has a cool pier too! Just ask the seagulls.This is not from a Hollywood film set. This really happens. I believe this picture was seen on CNN.Venice Beach is great for family fun, or not! Keep looking straight ahead kids.Everyone dreams of making it bigAnd of course, more sunsets. I don’t think the surfers were that impressed.Each New Year’s Day, the folks back east dream of moving west because it’s not 20 belowBut LA does get snow. You just don’t have to drive in it. You can just look at it like a postcard.And that view from Mulholland Drive. They made a movie about this place.They work on the roads at night so we can drive without delay during the day. Yeah right.If you look closely, Christmas is celebrated in LA. The decorations blend in with the graffiti.But there are legal graffiti artists that do a good job or not of blending art with natural beauty.It looks like the trunk of the one palm tree has graffiti on it.You’re not cool without sunglasses which can be had everywhere in SoCal in all shapes and sizes. Never tried purple.And you’re not cool if you don’t practice Tai Chi. Even the kids do itEvery city has one of these.And one of these. LA’s trashy garment districtBut not every town has great sunsets and palm trees!Or pyramidsOr art galleries of rock and movies starsOr a Chinatown with real dragons.And in Korea Town, the signs have English subtitlesOnly in Southern California will your neighbors tolerate purple. I hope you like it!And where you can have your own chain of tire stores.But the authorities don’t want you to have too much fun.Thankfully, the authorities give pedestrians and their Totos the right of way.SoCal comes alive especially at nightNo symmetrical buildings here.And while some people are here to make it big in Hollywood.Some are here are for the beautiful mountains and beaches. Maybe she has a headache today.
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