That time Estrella came to LA and I didn't take any pictures of her

Nowadays when I get to see Estrella we have so much to talk about and there are so many things we want to do with our short time together that I completely forget about taking pictures. Usually I at least get a couple but this time I took not one picture of her or us together! I realized later that we usually take our selfies while we're sitting on the pier, which didn't happen this time because she came to visit me so there was no pier.

Regardless, it was so nice to finally have her here in LA! We saw a Poem Store which was so special because we were together the first time we ever saw a Poem Store at a street fair in Oakland, and I've actually never seen one anywhere else. We also got some ramen at Daikokuya and explored Little Tokyo and Olvera Street for a bit before her train. It never seems like we have enough time! Hopefully the universe and our schedules will align again soon.

There's Always Money in the International Banana Museum

The day we went to Salvation Mountain was really an action packed day! On the way to Niland we passed a sign for a "World Famous International Banana Museum", so of course on the way back we kept an eye out and pulled over to investigate.

We didn't take any pictures inside because there was a sign asking that you make a purchase or a donation before taking any, but we did take some pictures with the stuffed banana outside, and the banana bug. The museum was actually pretty small but stuffed with boxes and cans from banana flavored foods, and other banana related items like a Bananas in Pajamas toy and a UCSC banana slugs sweater. There was also a counter where you could order milkshakes, presumably banana flavored as well.







Unexpected gems are really the best thing about road trips.

Bottom two photos taken by Isabel

What happened to February?

I liked the idea of a photo round-up post, so I think I'll keep it going. Here are all the bits and bobs of things that happened in February.


Glitter boots in the sunshine

The best boba in the world (sans boba)

What's Valentine's Day without macaroons?

Breakfast at night!

Car packed for a desert adventure

My last Christmas bath bomb

<3

Salton Sea

On the way back from Salvation Mountain, we stopped at the Salton Sea.

I hadn't heard of Salton Sea before I started looking up Salvation Mountain, and even then I didn't know any details about it. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. The shore is made of dead fish, which is disturbing enough to look at, but standing on it was such an unpleasant sensation I can't even completely describe how unsettling it was. In some places it was squishy and my feet were almost sinking into the dead fish mulch; I had to backtrack on to a firmer patch because I couldn't handle stepping on the squishy bits. The water looked horrible close-up, almost like sludge.








But then from a few steps back the lake looks gorgeous and peaceful.


It was a very, very strange place, and I kept thinking about it days after our trip. I read about how the sea was created by accident and how at one point they tried to make it into a Palm Springs-esque tourist destination but it never panned out. Now the sea is fed by agricultural run-off and the rising saline levels in the lake (it's currently saltier than the ocean) caused the massive fish die offs that give the sea it's eerie atmosphere. I found a movie on Netflix called "Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea" which goes much more in depth on the environmental crisis that is the Sea, and on the communities that live in Niland/Bombay Beach. I definitely recommend checking it out if you're interested.




Top photo taken by Isabel