Santa Monica Pier

I've received a lot of comments/questions/emails regarding my jaunt up to Santa Monica last week.  (And yes, the first few photos in today's post - plus a few others, have been put in the Santa Monica album on my photo site.  Thank you everybody for all the photo orders lately!)

I have to admit, I had a great day.

When I was a kid and tween, I spent a lot of time in Santa Monica.  

There's a huge area under the pier which the public has access to.  I used to love to play under the pier as a kid.  When the tide is out, it's like one gigantic fort under there.  (And I do mean gigantic - it's not a normal sized pier!)

On this visit, I think I spent nearly as much time taking photographs under the pier as I did up on top.

I think I have a bit of a pier obsession.

I loved being under the pier just as much as I used to as a child.  The challenge this trip, was to take photos in impossible lighting conditions.  I love a good challenge.  It was fun!

There were also things that made me wonder why, such as this random "noodle" on top of the pier:

I laughed out loud when I saw it, and again when I read the sign next to it.

There was also a "contortionist" performing.  He plugged in a boom-box with blaring music, set out paper cups to mark his territory, announced he would like people to give him money and began turning himself into a pretzel.

How does someone get to the point in life where they're performing between paper cups for tips?  I imagine he's just like thousands of others who came to L.A. thinking they'd become a *star*. 

I've never had any desire to be a celebrity.  Maybe the fact I'm a 5th generation Southern Californian has left me jaded.  

How about you?

Have you ever dreamed of being a star?

© Twenty Four At Heart

Comments

[Jack]

Have you ever dreamed of being a star?

Yes one day I will become a blogging superstar who is paid millions of dollars to write random thoughts about life, parenting and coyotes.

[Deidre]

I think when I was little I wanted to be star like The Vet from All Things Great and Small...or like Lassie.

Eh.

[di]

I'm laughing at the sign by the big noodle too. It's quite funny when you stop to think about it.

Di

[Tami]

The noodle IS funny. Love the photos. My favorite is the second one but the very first one is so cool too. I always wanted to be a singer. Non one in particular but a famous singer.

[Judi]

I am a star in my own mind, and used to dream of being a famous DJ on the radio.

They had a noodle just like that (same sign, too) outside Wrigley Field when I was in Chicago in June. Wonder if it's a travelling thing or if they just have multiple noodles all over the country.... I think it's really just a Kraft publicity stunt. There were billboards in various parts of the city that referenced the noodle and had Kraft logos.

[Sandra]

My children think I'm a star. :)

As a child I wanted to be:
* Annie after my parents took me to see "Annie" in theater
* Laura Ingles, because it looked really easy and fun, plus Pa was handsome.
* A Cosby child, only I was the wrong color

[Amy_in_Stl]

I never wanted to be a star. As a child I wanted to find out I had fabulously wealthy parents who had left me with my (actual) parents for safekeeping. I wanted to be a rich child who becomes a wealthy eccentric recluse. Odd that most of the rich children aren't recluses anymore - that's kind of a sad statement on the media.

[vodkamom]

I've decided I need to come for a visit. What say you????

[Rob]

OK, what's the reddish structure fastened to the piling? It looks about 4/5 of a dory boat... object d'art now?

Re: Paper Cup Contortionis. There are dreams, there are realities and then destinies. Ya gotta respect someone who uses his talents!