Christmas in LA

Christmas and New Year are two holidays that get me bogged down since I do not have immediate family here to spend it with. For this past Christmas, I decided to spend it with my cousins in LA. And it was well worth the trip.

We went to Mass at the LA Cathedral delivered by Cardinal Mahoney for Christmas day. We got to meet the Cardinal and took some pictures with him. The Cathedral itself was newish and modern looking. The outside was almost cubical and reminiscent of a modern art museum than a church. Nothing like how I would imagine a Catholic Cathedral would look like. No statue of saints were to be found outside or inside. Just a Crucifix in the altar. The walls were lined by computer generated tapestry of the different saints facing and adorning the altar. The choir was a little bit plain. Not one of those church choir that can move you to tears. And for those rare occasion that I heard Mass, Caucasian was the minority at that time.


We also went to the Happiest Place on Earth later that afternoon. Yes, we went to Disneyland. Primarily for our nephew Zach but it was us the adults who had more fun. Disneyland was packed so we decided to skip the popular rides. Instead we went to the Enchanted Tiki Room, Jungle cruise, Storybook land canal boat ride and It's a small world ride. The two boat rides we took would have been better if there were more illumination since it was dawn by the time we got there so we could hardly see the animatronic animals and model houses. The lights at the exterior of the It's a Small World was fantastic and festive. So many lights and it changes too at certain intervals. It was a cute ride, same as I remembered it the first time. Different dolls dancing and singing in different national costumes and languages. They also included some Disney characters. I was busy taking photograph and video that I probably cheated myself of the full experience. We also got to see the nightly parade featuring different Disney characters, Princes and Princesses, and Santa Clause. It was the first time I saw a Disney parade and I was entirely diverted. We did some shopping for souvenirs too of course. Just before we departed that wondrous place, we watched the nightly fireworks. I am not a big fan of fireworks but the music coordinating with the different explosions and colors won me over. Big cheers for the fun Disney experience!




The next day was spent just lounging at my cousin's house playing with my godson Zach. That evening my good friend Bong and his BF brought me to LA Eagle by Silverlake. I wanted to go to Silverlake to avoid the Weho crowd and attitude. I did get to flee from the attitude but the Eagle was just as crowded as any Weho bar. Ugh! I hate a very crowded bar but the company was good so the evening was not insufferable. It was highly worthy to see my good friend again and meet his new BF.

For my last day in LA, we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific by Long Beach. The trip was again mostly for Zach's enjoyment but as it was in Disneyland, we adults turned out to have more delight. I got to touch some sharks and rays and got to frolic along side the lorikeets. Saw some vivid lively aquariums exhibit with fish, corals and other invertebrates. Lunch was at the Gump and Bubba restaurant. A theme restaurant dedicated to the movie Forrest Gump. That evening was dinner at a Korean restaurant with all my kinsfolk in LA.




Satisfying indeed to be with family for Christmas. As I said earlier, well worth the trouble of flying and the money spent.