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First off - LA hostels should rule the world. Never in my life have I enjoyed my stay anywhere... a great little hide-away in LA.
The Vibe - just full of gorgeous young Europeans, most of them just returning from snorkeling in the South Pacific.... Free breakfast, bbqs, live music, dancing - a movie room with cushy chairs, a giant big screen TV. Pool tables, bingo, karaoke - private rooms are fucking awesomely decorated. I mean, it is a photographer's dream....
Completely affordable at - $22 for a dorm and $65 for a private.
Love this place. When I go to San Fran, I am going to do the hostel thing again... Heard they are even better than the LA set-up
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As always, the best part of any trip would be the people that you meet..... And so far, I have made so many new friends and contacts just by staying the night here. So many email addresses and people to keep in touch with for when I go to Europe.... many are couchsurfers, they make Europe seem so easy and so approachable...
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A few nights ago I stayed at the
Banana Bungalows hostel on Fairfax, near Melrose. Went out wandering on foot, found a bunch of live music at a 24 hour little dive bar. Half a diner, half a smelly bar with peanuts. The bartender told me that whatever I could drink - I could drink for free. Just badbadbad news... since I never go out anymore (being a single female traveling in strange cities is not a great idea for party-time, you get lost, hit on, mugged).... I got pretty tore up - met tons of people though. Met a hair-band who took me out and showed me how to spray my hair and make it big in the parking lot..... The music was fantastic, bought some CDs...
Been shooting a lot and often - I leave LA...... right now, actually. Headed for D. Brian Nelson's little hole in the wall in San Diego for two nights...
Not happy with my scheduling for California at all.... my route just zigs and zags all over the state. No idea what the hell I was thinking, backtracking all over the place..... I go from LA, San Diego, LA, San Fran back to Santa Barbara for the Lightning in a Bottle fest - maybe LA again if I want to continue making money for Alaska... and then up to Sacramento? Jesus - my scheduling was just plain stupid.... either that, or California is just too much state to book....
I am so hungry - luckily the hostel is having free grilled cheese sandwiches.... ah, I love this place. : )