Explore Los Angeles

My Pops is in town this week, well, actually it's Monday, so he's in Big Bear until tomorrow. It's always an interesting task to plan activities which will entertain while the parents are in town (believe me, the task doesn't take much, it's not a stress, it's just...interesting). I think back to my teenage years when I used to vacation in California from Minnesota. It didn't take much to entertain me back then, I mean, I was visiting from Minnesota. I was happy to simply go to the beach and work on my tan, boogie board and eat tacos pescado (a dish unheard of in MN until recently).
I realized I really should go out an purchase a Fodors guide to Southern California in order to know what Los Angeles and surrounding areas have to offer, not only to my Pops, but to me. I find myself frequenting the same beaches, the same bars and the same restaurants religiously.
There was a time when I was "green" to Southern California and the simple adventure of experiencing new things in a different way was all I needed to be satisfied or entertained.
On Saturday we (JoAnne, Pops and I) walked around Chinatown and had some amazing Chinaman's food. We browsed through the 5 t-shirts for $10 section in the crowded market (Dad fingered through the fake stones wondering if they were worth the $6) while dodging the hot summer LA sun. I suggested we walk over to Union Station via Olvera Street and check out the lost and forgotten Los Angeles (at least on my radar screen). I loved it. I loved Olvera Street so much I found myself saying things like "wow, isn't that cool?...look the architecture...I mean, we're right downtown!" I continued on this same tone as we walked into Union Station saying things like "that'd be sweet to live right here, you could take the train everywhere...well, I mean if the trains actually went anywhere I needed to go."
All in all...I had a great time, I forgot about some of the cool things I enjoyed while a young lad. I didn't take too many pics, but a Chinaman did at dinner.