Washington Boulevard - WE LOVE IT!! - I Love L.A.

May 2008 LA TB Meetup Group Photo

 

"WASHINGTON BOULEVARD - WE LOVE IT - I LOVE L.A."

 

SATURDAY TRAVBUDDY MEETUP

 

Saturday evening, May 17, was a manic night in Marina Del Rey, California. At least 35 TravBuddies and friends ate, drank, laughed, posed and partied up and down Washington Blvd. This is my ninth TravBuddy shindig and it’s the first time I’ve had the opportunity to return to the same area.

 

My previous meetups:

September 2007 - Bunratty, Ireland

December 2007 - Los Angeles, California, US

December 2007 - Chicago, Illinois, US

January 2007- San Francisco, California, US

January 2008 - Amsterdam, Netherlands

January 2008 - London, England

April 2008 - New Orleans, Louisiana, US

April 2008 - New York, NY, US

 

These are 35 of the terrific pals who attended the Los Angeles TravBuddy Meetup:

(I’m sure I am missing a couple of folks; let me know those who need to be included)

 

1.

Belize bums: Julz-Erin-Mel-Me-Wendy (Joy pic)

   http://www.travbuddy.com/acowboy  Adrian, Phoenix, AZ

2.   http://www.travbuddy.com/alicegourmet  Alice, Los Angeles, CA

3.   http://www.travbuddy.com/angelbaby  Angel, West Hollywood, CA

4.   http://www.travbuddy.com/freebird90049  Azadeh, Los Angeles, CA

5.   http://www.travbuddy.com/belinda2000  Belinda, Hollywood, CA

6.   http://www.travbuddy.com/chucklesb  Charles, Aliso Viejo, CA

7.  http://www.

Reese-Belinda-Eric-Lisa-Ryan-Jen-Stephen

travbuddy.com/reese30  Chereese, (Reese) Culver City, CA

8.   http://www.travbuddy.com/Reesiemac  Chereese, Northridge, CA

9.  http://www.travbuddy.com/eric  Eric (TravBuddy co-founder), Los Angeles, CA

10.  http://www.travbuddy.com/poohstanggt  Erin, Sacramento, CA

11.  http://www.travbuddy.com/giovanniruiz  Giovanni, Los Angeles, CA

12.  http://www.travbuddy.com/jenaarmstrong  Jen, San Diego, CA

13.  http://www.travbuddy.com/jenn79  Jennifer, Los Angeles, CA

14.  http://www.

Wendy-Erin-Giovanni-Lynette-Sybil

travbuddy.com/jillianj  Jillian, San Francisco, CA

15.  http://www.travbuddy.com/pvtjoy  Joy, Los Angeles, CA

16.  http://www.travbuddy.com/mzjulz85  Julz, CA

17.  http://www.travbuddy.com/katastrophe1592  Kathryn

18.  http://www.travbuddy.com/lisa  Lisa, Los Angeles, CA

19.  http://www.travbuddy.com/Nyl  Lynette, New York, NY

20.  http://www.travbuddy.com/travelman727  Mark, Overland Park, KS

21.  http://www.travbuddy.com/mellemel8  Melanie, Las Vegas, NV

22.

Tracy, Will, Julz & Oscar

  http://www.travbuddy.com/melissa919  Melissa,

23.  http://www.travbuddy.com/hirondellenhi  Nyla (Nhi), Los Angeles, CA and her friend

25.  http://www.travbuddy.com/coolfrnd992  Oscar, So Cal

26.  http://www.travbuddy.com/prissyT  Priscilla, South Gate, CA

27.  http://www.travbuddy.com/foolz0r  Ryan, Los Angeles, CA

28.  http://www/travbuddy.com/sincitytraveler  Sal, Las Vegas, NV

29.  http://www.travbuddy.com/sheila35  Sheila, Los Angeles, CA

30.  http://www.

Joy, Melanie, Jillian & Angel

31.  http://www.travbuddy.com/sybil  Sybil, Los Angeles, CA

32.  http://www.travbuddy.com/tre69  Tracy, Los Angeles, CA

33.  http://www.travbuddy.com/Synthetrix  Victor, Los Angeles, CA

34.  http://www.travbuddy.com/travelngirl  Wendy, Huntington Beach, CA

35.  http://www.travbuddy.com/w_clemmons  Will, North Charleston, SC

After spending the day relaxing on the coast, I met up with the gang in marvelous Marina Del Rey at C&O Trattoria, just a couple of blocks from the Pacific Ocean. Being near the sea always gives me a thrill (what do you expect from a landlocked Kansan?) Four of our October Belize beach bums: Julz, Erin, Wendy and myself ��" plus Melanie (potential prize recruit) posed outside the restaurant. In the lyrics of Jerry Jeff Walker, come away to Belize with us!!

Soon, Eric, Lisa and Ryan showed up.

Gals dig guys wearing pink-ask Will

We broke up into smaller groups for dinner. I was blessed to chew and chat with Reese, Belinda, Eric, Lisa, Ryan, Jen and Stephen.  We had a nice mix of four meetup vets and four newbies.

After finishing a wonderful, leisurely Italian meal, we decided to stroll over to the Marriott Hotel, located just a few blocks away.

The Marriott turned out to be a sensational setting. Its lush lobby had a beautiful bar and plenty of room for us. The adjoining Club Glow was off-limits for awhile because of a private party honoring the Los Angeles area 2008 NFL draftees.

People pulled over extra seats and we happily scrunched up together around two huge tables. It was great to see each person having a splendid time visiting with old pals and making new ones.  

After awhile, we took group photos. After every shot, we changed positions, making each picture unique.   

Unfortunately, I had to leave soon afterwards to catch a red-eye flight back to Kansas City. However, as you can see by viewing the other wonderful blogs I’ve listed in Friday’s account, the party moved into Club Glow and the fun continued.

I look forward to seeing many of these fabulous friends soon, many at the June Kansas City TravBuddy meetup.