It’s Easter Sunday. Back home we usually don’t celebrate that extensively, but here it seems like a bigger deal. People have easter bunnies in their yard and are coming together with family. I also have a gathering with friends planned in the afternoon.
In the morning I first go back to the coffee place I found yesterday, because I enjoyed hanging out there. Where it was quite busy on Saturday morning, I’m the only customer there today. It’s only 7am and they just opened. I get a cappuccino and sit down to read a bit. Then I get an idea that it might be handy to plan out the road trip a bit more. I make a rough schedule for the coming weeks. On one hand it’s exciting, on the other hand also a bit daunting. I’ve got many miles to go to get to Montana, but I think it’ll be a fun drive. When I’m done planning I go outside and take the bus in the direction of Balboa Park. It’s a sunny day again and I’d like to walk around there. Usually on Sundays I go for a walk in a city or in nature.
The park is beautiful and has old buildings and fountains in the middle. There are quite a few people out here, but it’s not too crowded. I talk with a few friendly people and do some sightseeing until it’s about noon and time for me to meet with my friends. I take a bus and then the streetcar from downtown. I can see why my friend Brittany has moved away from here last year, because it’s quite sketchy scene. A lot of homeless people on the streets and also quite a few police or transit security officers. Not a place you want to hang out too long. I take the streetcar back to Ocean Beach, a totally different neighborhood, meet with Brittany and Addie and we drive to their friends house, close to Los Angeles. It’s about a two hour drive and there is a lot of traffic, quite usual for this route. I think to myself that it’s interesting that it’s so normal here that you drive two hours to meet with family or friends for an afternoon and drive back again. Back home you cross the whole country if you drive for about four hours.
We spend the afternoon with Brittany’s brother, Logan and his family and also with Nancy and her family. I’ve known them for years now and have become a family friend. It’s great to see Logan again. I forgot a bit how funny he is, he makes me laugh a lot. I’m sorry that I forgot to take any selfies together, but we have a great time with all of us. Nancy’s mom has made a lot of delicious food. It’s obvious that she’s been in the kitchen for hours and we enjoy the it. Logan introduces me to the real Corona, the original version of the Mexican beer. A lot more tasteful than the version we know in Europe. Friends, food and beer make for a great time. The afternoon flies by and when it gets dark we say goodbye and drive back to San Diego. I’m glad I got to see these friends again. Tomorrow I can pick up my rental car and start the road trip. I think I’ll take it easy with first a stop at Walmart to get my camping stuff and then drive to Los Angeles, just a few hours away. I’m looking forward to see Hollywood and the movie studios again.
