A picture. A song. A laugh. Everything brings me back to where I was almost a year ago. A sincere and memorable trip.

There is not a day that passes by without a thought about this trip. California; we imagine with prejudice Hollywood and its uncountable stars who flood Los Angeles. Despite having this preconception myself, my time spent in this part of America left me some much more tender and beautiful souvenirs.

I began this adventure with amazing San Francisco. You cannot imagine the beauty of this city with so much history without seeing it with your own eyes. It hides something special, artistic and mysterious. The downtown area reminded me a retro version of Montreal. Noisy trams emerging from every direction, the singers-amateur prevailing in Union Square, tourists walking and smiling while watching the buildings that have so much to tell. On the shores of the city is Alcatraz. A ancient prison closed since 1963. It made me shiver. Walking on the footsteps of dangerous and now famous prisoners was a very special moment. The fascination, disgust and curiosity were blended to follow me throughout my visit.

And how in the world can I talk about this grandiose city without ever mentioning its figurehead? The Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge simply seems endless, often lost in the clouds. Majestic, loud and clear, the countless postcards on which it is exposed certainly do not making it justice. On the other side of the bridge, about 40 minutes from San Francisco, is Muir Woods, a forest of giant redwood. The park, so peaceful and invigorating at the same time, reminds us how much nature is powerful and pure.And how could I be visiting California without stopping in Napa Valley, a paradise for wine drinkers? The intense heat, the powerful sun blinding us and a glass of wine firmly rooted in our hand, we couldn’t ask for more.

Renting a car to go down to Los Angeles was the best idea of the trip. Driving along the sea on Highway 1 is certainly one of the most memorable moments of my life. On my left, strong mountains and knee high grass, and on my right, huge cliffs that overlooked the magnificent water of the Pacific ocean stretching out of sight. Not only the scenery was breathtaking, but the road itself, winding valleys, rocked me to the sounds of the gentle breeze. The old villages I passed through well kept their beauties of yesterday. It only added to the happiness of my discovery of California.

Arriving in LA, it was the return of the myths surrounding the City of Angels. The houses are so large that we are lost just by looking at them, buildings so tall and dense that you feel stuck in their sides and each building that is crossed is lined with great wealth brush strokes. Downtown, so great, so modern, but without life when everyone works. Almost only myself walking, wondering if there has been a disaster for which I had not heard. Still, I was happy to say that I saw Hollywood, The Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. But my favorite of Los Angeles is definitely the lovely Santa Monica area and particularly Third Street. This pedestrian street is constantly alive. With its many restaurants and shops of all kinds, be it day or night, you can not get bored. I went many times making new discoveries each times. A inevitable place that saved my perception of Los Angeles.

I finally ended my trip in San Diego, a city with a unique architecture. Downtown, buildings are constructed in a very special theme: they must all have the form of a tool. This makes it very interesting but also pleasing to the eye. In the suburbs, the houses are rather quiet, rustic and colored. The heterogeneity of this city made it particularly charming. The people are friendly, the atmosphere is upbeat and there is a certain feeling of serenity that transports us once you're there as though this city lacked the excitement and stress that is typically found in larger centers. What made me fall in love, eternal animal’s lover, is the San Diego Zoo, one of the largest worldwide. I was astonished by the work they put in reproducing as closely as possible the naturalhabitat of the animals so they don’t feel lost or withdrawn. I found the idea brilliant.

All in all, I expected to simply discover another part of the United States, but I discovered another world. California, tremendous but so much authentic, gave me the desire to know every little piece of what the earth has to show us. It was a rewarding journey, full of discoveries and emotions. Sincerely unforgettable.

Blogueuse : Léonie Pelletier

Rédactrice en chef : Véronique Leduc

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