Million Dollar Hotel

Between the two of us (more on her side I suspect than on mine) we decided to go to the Million Dollar Hotel. I believe there was a movie of the same name by Wenders. I think Mel Gibson stared in it. It was a beautiful idea and since we were adventuring in downtown LA, it seemed like a plan. After a day of visiting museums and exploring the city via camera and urban commentary, we arrived at the hotel. We decided to check into a room and my heart lept with excitement: this was new territory for me (and I'm sure Lily would say something similar). Our room was something of a timepiece, very 50's decor and the aura of stories waiting to be heard and visions waiting to be seen. Then Lily and I began our photographic journey: me with my Yashica-Mat and Royal 1940's typewriter, her with a brand new digital camera and her artistic sensibilities.

We traversed the hallways, stairways, people who stayed there indefinitely as well as the visitors touring through its many rooms. I let the experience settle in me, took notes along the way.

Then I discovered a way to the roof. My heart lept again. I almost couldn't contain myself. Lily on the other hand was afraid of heights. "Oh my god, I'm going to die!!" "Look. There's a ladder, see? We won't die... Just don't look down." Which we both did. The metal balcony we were on was small and you couldn't help but to look down. "It'll be alright. Let's just go." "oh my god, Efrem! I don't wanna fall!" "You won't fall. I won't let you!"

Once we made it up there, we ran and played and took pictures and I typed and we took more pictures until nightfall. Standing there on top of Downtown Los Angeles, under the neon lights with my very dear and best friend, was one of the most endearing experiences of my life. It was like discovering a new world neither of us had seen before.

I didn't want to leave.

Afterwards we went to the movies and saw "Million Dollar Hotel", ate at Johnnies Pastrami. A beautiful end to a beautiful day.