TRAVEL DIARIES: SF // LA VIA SLEEPY HOLLOW

Greetings from my current encampment in Korea Town, Los Angeles. Bizarrely, (and I suppose because California borders Mexico) I am awoken every day by the dulcet tones of a mariachi band, gaily trumpeting their mexican goodness between, by my findings, 7:57am and 9:38am. I will really miss the mariachi band. I do not know from whence they come, (nor why, the name of my neighbourhood considered) but they're sort of like Vampire Weekend; a band that is impossible to listen to without feeling happier. Between the mariachi band and the fact that the Starbucks a block away decided to have Frappuccino Happy Hour every day this week from 3-5pm, I am positively jubilant. Oh, America!

I ticked something off my bucket list this month: The Great Californian Roadtrip. After five days exploring San Francisco, (Melbourne's grittier cousin who is part Mexican)I jumped into my friend's character-laden blue vee-dub (complete with additional "safety features" including a non-opening boot)and made the trek back to Los Angeles, via Yosemite National Park. I had no concept of Yosemite or what it would entail, but one of my friends had monikered it "every rock climber's DREAM", and so I figured that even if I wouldn't climb any rocks myself, I could point and laugh at those who did, and observe the park's exemplary waterfalls. Which is basically how I wound up being the only hiker in the wider Yosemite region wearing Keds.

Here's the thing, though: I hate horror movies. More than any other person you know that hates horror movies. You can therefore imagine my sheer panic when upon entering the park the first thing we pass is a sign over a secluded hill stating "SLEEPY HOLLOW". "You mean, as in, the movie?? The horror movie?" I whispered to my friend, which by mid sentence had somehow become decidedly more shrill. "Umm yeah, I guess. Tonnes of stuff gets filmed here." Oh! Wizard! I am spending the next few nights in literally a scene from my nightmares, with added bears for effect. THEIRONY. Oh, I didn't mention the bears? That's funny, neither had my friend. Until it was too late to back out. Much to his disappointment and my mother's relief, the bears went unencountered, but the rattle snake warnings managed to keep us on our toes even when the horizon seemed safe.

Melodramatic animal warnings aside; Yosemite has to be one of the most impressive places I've ever seen. There are few places I've experienced where your only reasonable response is to stand still in your surroundings in silence and awe, humbled by perspective. The mountains were imposing in their grandeur, the waterfalls lived up to the hype, and they weren't kidding about that clean mountain air, either. There was also a local diner with blue booths and bottomless coffee refills. I was extremely animated on the way home. (Props, Buck Meadows.) 

Arrived back in the city of angels just in time for Cinco de Mayo,(how many Mexican references can YOU fit in a blog post?) which basically translated to an excuse for every aspect of your meal to contain tequila. (If you have not tried tequila chocolate ice cream, it is a good time, let me tell you.)

Celebratory shenanigans are now ahead, with the wedding bells chiming for a close friend's LA nuptials this week, and a happy kiwi invasion ahead of the fact.

Until then, though, you can find me in what is disturbingly becoming my natural habitat: The Cereal Aisle, in a trance-like state. S0 many options. SO little nutritional value. SO going to attempt all of them before I get home.