Picto Diary - 25 to 27 August 2024 - Malibu Interlude
Above: In 'N Out Burger. Barstow, CA. 25 August 2024.
TIMDT and Mwah (sic) are big fans of In 'N Out when on the road. Until today, however, we had never seen an In 'N Out on such a large scale, an estimated three times larger than the typical In "N Out unit. And we got "in and out" at expectation both food quality and speed of service.
In the parking lot, just after arrival at the Barstow, CA In 'N' Out restaurant, while listening to Jeep aficionado salivating over our 392, I was approached by a well-dressed forty something man saying he was down on his luck as he had lost his wallet and needed money for gas to drive home to LA. I guess as out-of-state oldsters, TIMDT and Mwah (sic) seemed like easy marks. I replied immediately that I couldn't help, then turned, and with TIMDT, walked into the restaurant. I wondered if the jeep praising fellow was in on the scam... otherwise I regretted that I couldn't hang around a minute or two more to talk cars and motors.
Above: Five Miles East of Baker, CA. I-80. 25 August 2024.
Bumper to bumper for ten minutes up this two lane, three-degree hill. Three lanes should be the minimum here. Monday traffic leaving Las Vegas, returning to SoCal. California's roads have the reputation of being poor and inadequate. Here, near Baker, CA, was a good example of that.
Above: Victorville, CA. 25 August 2024.
Doing business out of the back of a truck parked at the side of the road. Squint and you could be in Ensenada, Mexico. There are two Californias: one, idyllic, prosperous enclaves on the coast. The other, make-ends-meet-dinge in the interior.
Above: US 101 NB. Tarzana, CA. 25 August 2024.
Freeway traffic: one of the reasons why LA may be a nice place to visit but a challenging place in which to live. Still, Angelinos subject themselves to these traffic nightmares. There must be a reason. Employment, of course is one reason. Also, SoCal's equable climate has great appeal. Plus, all of the attractions of a big coastal city... entertainment, restaurants, beaches and theme parks and museums. Not to mention vibe... though some beach vibe is tested by rising homelessness and crime in otherwise popular places like Venice Beach.
Above: Malibu, CA. 25 August 2024.
TIMDT contemplates the Pacific Ocean. She does not require supplemental Oxygen at sea level.
Above: Malibu, CA. 25 August 2025
Rabbit.
Above: The Getty Villa Museum Malibu, CA 26 August 2024
The Getty Villa is modeled after the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, Italy. The building was constructed in the early 1970s by architects who worked closely with founder J. Paul Getty.
The Villa dei Papiri (“Villa of the Papyruses”) was rediscovered in the 1750s. The excavation recovered bronze and marble sculptures, wall paintings, colorful stone pavements, and over a thousand papyrus scrolls—hence the name.
Buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, much of the Villa dei Papiri remains unexcavated. Therefore, architects based many of the Museum's architectural and landscaping details on elements from other ancient Roman houses in the towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. The scale, appearance, and some of the materials of the Getty Villa are taken from the Villa dei Papiri—such as the floor plan—though it is a mirror of the original.
Gardens are integral to the setting of the Getty Villa, as they were in the ancient Roman home, and include herbs and shrubs inspired by those grown in ancient Roman homes for food and ceremony.
Coincidentally, two days ago, I had completed Robert Harris' historical novel, "Pompeii." The coincidence of visiting a replica of a Roman Villa destroyed in Vesuvius's eruption, here in Malibu, simultaneous with completing a study on how the Getty Villa's Roman inspiration was destroyed was uncanny.
Above: Geoffry's Restaurant, Malibu, CA. 26 August 2024.
Montage, SpaGo, Alcoa, KK, TIMDT, and The Bishop. Local friends SpaGo and Montage drove up from Marina del Rey to join for dinner.
Sea breeze and seafood. Nice evening with friends.
There was an unexplained surcharge of 4% on the restaurant bill. KK asked the waiter for an explanation. The waiter said he would ask the manager to stop by the table. The manager said she would rather eliminate the charge than spend time explaining it. So, that is what happened. There was no disclosure of a supplemental charge on the menu. This phenomenon gives rise to all forms of speculation as to what is going on. I agreed with KK. Charges should be disclosed before ordering. It would appear that most restaurant goers pay the bill without questioning the unknown surcharge. Maybe there is something they know that we don't. One way or the other, all supplemental charges beyond the regular bill should be fully disclosed.
Above: Paradise Cove, Malibu, CA 27 August 2024.
Double wide prefab homes owned by celebrities are priced at over $1MM. Life is good in the Malibu trailer park! We had breakfast at the nearby Paridise Cove Beach Cafe. Lotta celebrity memorabilia on the walls.
Above: Malibu, CA. 27 August 2024.
TIMDT with our hosts for Malibu Interlude. KK and Alcoa.
I asked TIMDT what her most prominent recollections of the Malibu Interlude were. She replied, "The Getty Villa Museum," and being with our affable hosts.
Above: Neiman Marcus. Las Vegas, NV 27 August 2024.
TIMDT was in Paradise Cove this AM in Malibu. This PM she's in actual Paradise... Neiman Marcus, Las Vegas.