….You had to see that coming.
Took a B.I.G. step and visited the west, needed a vacay to get out the Mitten State.

Ok getting to business. I went to California for the first time in 21 years. I hadn’t been since I was like 9 years old (I’m definitely older than what most think I am lol).

While I took 1000+ pics on this trip, I realize I don’t have a lot of variation or at least half the shots I actually wanted due to several reasons, such as not having the lens I wish I had (70-200mm), I didn’t fly my drone one time -__- and also I think I spent more time trying to make sure I had adequate video clips for the vlog.

If you haven’t already, I have both part I and II of the Cali vlog at the bottom of this page.

Update: So I was midway working through this blog and something randomly crashed and I lost all of my progress and wording and after I redid it, I realized I honestly didn’t put much effort into it after that lol. So sorry if you are like “his writing is whack.”

Day I

I’m starting this blog with an iPhone food picture of a delicious chorizo sandwich from Anita’s Kitchen (I think it was called) in Marina Del Ray. Then right after that pic, straight to pics from Venice Beach. Judeus and Porsha kinda planned on having a beach day so it was the perfect time to go see it. We parked in some nearby neighborhood and walked over.

I got separated from Judeus (@judeus.samson) and Porsha while we were on our way to Santa Monica Pier…yes we walked from Venice Beach all the way to the pier…or at least I did. We were walking and I happened to see a girl sitting on some stairs and I figured it woulda been a great time to try and shoot a picture of a stranger. So I approached, and asked if it’d be alright for me to take a picture of her and she obliged. I got her IG and sent her the images when I got a chance to sit at my laptop.

After that, while I was still walking “thinking” I was catching up to J and Porsha, I saw a couple that was locked literally in this position for about 5 min. I took a good handful of shots trying to frame it correctly and wish I had a better lens…70-200…sorry if I refrence that lens a lot in this post lol.

Finally reaching the pier, I stopped at the beachside of the boardwalk because I was amazed by the masses of people. To me, it was like looking at box of spilled nerds, but to everyone else, it was probably a typical Sunday at Santa Monica Beach.

…and it was only right that I took a walk into Pacific Park.

I met back up with J and Porsha, but they were lounging at the beach so I left them to hop on a scooter to explore the area. Maybe about 15 min later, they said they were ready to move on, and said to meet them back at the Venice sign. So I sped back that way to make sure they weren’t waiting on me, and I ended up being early lol. While waiting, I met two cool dudes, Haza Russell (@hazarussell) and Joss Mooney (@jossmooney). We chopped it up for a bit and Joss let me snag a few shots of him in his brand Label Ltd.

When they finally arrived at the Venice sign, we walked back to the car so we can go drive around Beverly Hills and dream about owning a house out there and then go to The Grove.

In the parking garage, we met one of the security escorts that said he’s driven different celebrities to and from their cars, then he asked if I can take his picture lol.

One of the last stops we made before getting food and ending the night, was Hollywood Blvd. Man..it was some pretty wild stuff out there lol. People be straight foolin lol. I swear my favorite part was the MJ impersonator lol (watch the vlog). If I had a certain lens hint hint…it woulda made a shot I snuck of the Joker so much better lol.

Day II

Next morning, I made my way to my first restaurant on my list of places to hit - Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles.

and of course had to get some iPhone pics in too.

So this is the first day that I have my rented Benz…(ooooh) and I had a slight itinerary. Food was done, first up was going to LACMA.

I’m still salty about paying $25 for the museum just to see this thing below and some other art that I wasn’t really here for lol.

I mean this corridor was kinda cool tho…I guess…lol.

I’m not gonna lie, I was kinda lost for a min. Because I was looking for a particular place that actually happened to be elsewhere. But I went for a walk and saw this dope building.

Next on my stop was to go to the Griffith Observatory. I did a bad job of parking, cuz I didn’t just drive all the way to the top. Instead, I made a bad call and parked on the road and walked up. On my way though, I did manage to get some dope pics of the canyon and hills.

Afterwards I headed into DTLA, to find the bookstore I always would see so much on Instagram. Funny thing is, I lowkey stumbled across it lol. I didn’t know exactly what to look for, or even the name. I just saw something that said book store so I took a chance and went in.

I found the famed book circle that everyone takes pics in, and I HATED that I didn’t have a muse with me. I even saw the lighted book arc or tunnel or whatever it’s called. Thankfully a couple walked up and I asked them if I could use them instead.

After leaving the book store, I wandered around DTLA on foot before my parking meter was up.

One thing about DTLA, it has a huge homeless problem. Especially Skid Row which is basically the homeless neighborhood if you will. While I walked around DTLA, I saw a plethora of homeless in the most random places on the street.

From experience, I’ve stopped giving money to homeless, only because oft times, they aren’t truthful in what they do with the money given. They run back to the vices that have landed them on the street initially, or a habit they’ve picked up as a result. This one man I saw while I was walking caught me off guard when he pulled this thing out of the bag. I didn’t wanna be obvious, so I shot this picture actually behind me as I was walking. It made me kinda sad after my initial smh, because I wish I went back to talk to him.

Leaving DTLA to go find some food and my dumb self didn’t realize it was about rush hour going on, sooo I got caught in ridiculous traffic.

I went to In-N-Out for my first time, and for my review on it, watch the vlog lol.

Ok sooooo the plan was to go catch the sunset at Santa Monica…I did not make it. I got that dope shot above while driving to Santa Monica but as for getting there at sunset, that was a bust. So instead, I headed back to LACMA to see the lights on at night.

On my way back to J’s place, I saw a person standing at a bus stop not far from LACMA, and slowed down just a bit to get the shot since my light was green lol. Didn’t wanna raise suspicion of just stopping or even coming to a crawl and mess up the shot and freak a person out lol.

DAY III

Woke up super early to attempt a sunrise. Let me just tell you it was a fail. But it was still beautiful and peaceful to be at Santa Monica with not a lot of craziness and commotion going on.

The sun was still kinda rising so I needed to try and find a vantage point so I took a walk on the beach.

I went back to the pier, to get ready to leave. This was after the homeless man tried to sell me the pants lol…I should note, not the homeless man in this photo.

When I saw how the sun was hittin, I ended up getting back out of the car to shoot pics of the car.

This day was already pretty eventful. So after leaving Santa Monica Pier, I went to meet Jared (@jaredsennari) for breakfast at Bru’s Wiffle - not Waffle…WIFFLE. Maybe I’m just ignorant cause I don’t know what a wiffle is. But the food slapped though.

After we feast, then we beast! *epic voice*

After Jared and I shot, I began my trip out to Laguna Beach. It was definitely a nice cruise on PCH. I got out to Laguna to do a quick shoot with the homie Steph (@steph_toilolo) and her husband Levine (@levine_toilolo) at the house before we went to the beach.

I never say this about beaches, but this beach near their house was absolutely GORGEOUS.

Anddddddd Steph got caught in a swell LOL

So that swell from above? Yea. Reached a long ways up the shoreline and hit my bag. Thankfully it didn’t get many of my things wet.

After I dropped Steph off, I made that long 2+ hours trek back to L.A.

I got back to the Griffith Observatory, and Julu (@juliannalup) and I got started almost right away.

We darted down to DTLA to try and find some lights to keep shooting since it was dark. We ended up in an area near the Staples Center that we deemed Baby Times Square lol.

Day IV

Last day in the city, I wanted to hit a few more spots, but I only had the car for so much longer. So I ran over to the Bradbury Building first.

The previous night, Julu and I asked around amongst her peers to see if we could find this location below. Since it was dark, we doubted it would be a good spot at night, so I just went the following day. I REALLY wish I had a muse up there.

After leaving there, I ended up going to the hood to find cheaper gas lol. I did not want to pay anything over $4/gallon so I drove til I could find the cheapest.

It was a bitter sweet…well mostly bitter goodbye to the Benz that I rented, as I took it back to the place and got a lift to the airport. I wasn’t ready to come back to MI at ALL. But all things must come to an end.

Again, below are both vlog parts I & II. Enjoy!

Fin.