Today Gena and I headed northwards through Los Angeles, arriving at the Bob Hope International Airport in Burbank, where we picked up the kids who flew in from Phoenix.
Los Angeles is a massive city, and while LAX is an internationally known airport, it’s also a nightmare to get in and out of due to traffic. Fortunately there are a collection of smaller airports scattered around the greater Los Angeles area, and when we were living in California we quickly learned that it was always easier – and sometimes cheaper! – to fly in and out of one of these airports instead of LAX. Since the Burbank airport is the farthest north airport, that’s the one we would use. We made multiple trips back and forth between Camarillo, Santa Barbara, and the Burbank airport over the years and, as might be expected, developed a few beloved family traditions.
One tradition is Porto’s, an amazing Cuban restaurant and bakery in Burbank proper, just a mile or two from the airport. It’s always busy as their food and baked goods are delicious and their prices are ridiculously low compared to most other establishments. While I thought we might glimpse a movie star or two, since the place is almost across the street from a major movie studio lot, I never have.
So we stopped at Porto’s to get a healthy collection of probably unhealthy baked goods to feast on later. Then we jumped on the 101 and headed North. Our goal was near Malibu, and rather than drive out of our way to the south to catch I10 to the coast, we took the 101 to Topanga Canyon and drove that quaint little road south to the coast. It’s a two lane road winding through some lovely scenery and more than a few holdovers from the 60’s. It’s clear the summer of love hasn’t ended for everyone, based on some of the quaint places we passed. The love may remain, but I’m pretty sure property values have changed a bit in the last 50 years or more!
We stopped at Malibu Seafood for lunch. Another beloved family favorite. Pricey, but it was a special treat to stop here on our comings and goings into the greater Los Angeles area. Driving down the coast is far more beautiful and often quicker than taking the major freeway arteries into LA. At this restaurant you order your food and find a seat at a picnic table overlooking the coastal freeway and the Pacific Ocean. It’s hard to find a nicer view. We enjoyed a good cross-section of maritime delicacies before completing the trek to Santa Barbara.
It’s been five years since we left, but the paths are still familiar and full of wonderful memories, and promises of more memories to come!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 