Water park!

One of the most beautiful sights in LA at this time of year is the Jacaranda tree, which has the most beautiful, purple flowers. There is nothing in the UK which comes even close to the colour of these delicate and beautiful blooms. We drove out of the city today and the road sides were lined with them. Google them. They’re truly lovely.

We were driving out of LA to visit Raging Waters, a large water park where all the staff are instructed to tell you to have a “raging day.” Frankly, the only things which are raging in the UK are hardons, ‘flus and queens!

Aside from its complete lack of vegetarian food, the water park was a huge amount of fun. The first “ride” we went on was called Drop Out. Riders climb up a tall structure, position themselves somewhat perilously on the top of a water slide, and then let themselves drop. It’s an almost vertical fall and it is terrifying. You end up shooting off the bottom of the slide and being dumped into a pool of water, somewhat dazed and confused, with a load of water up your nose. I’m proud of myself for having done it, but would never do it again!

For the rest of the day, we bobbed up and down, clung to giant water rings, shot off the edge of ramps, climbed tall structures, swam, got bashed about like rag dolls, aquaplaned and generally giggled uncontrollably. My favourite moment was when Matt’s friend, Jamie, was thrown out of his seat in the rapids ride and landed in my lap. Terrified that he was going to be thrown clear out of our giant rubber ring, I put my arm around him and clung onto him for dear life until we reached the bottom of the ride. Laughing hysterically! 

The lack of vegetarian food was troublesome. There was a somewhat disingenuous pretence from staff at the water park that someone asking for vegetarian food was something so rare that they had to respond to the question by simply staring blankly, like the person asking was making the most insane demand! One woman at one food stall actually got on her radio and asked the park manager where someone might fight vegetarian food. In the end, they sent me over to a stall where the bloke said he could do me a burger, just without the patty. “So you mean a bread roll with some lettuce and tomato?” I asked. He nodded.

I eventually found a pizza slice. It was most peculiar. This is LA. Everyone in LA is a fussy eater!

Because it was a Monday, and because the weather was fairly overcast in the morning, the place was half empty, which meant we didn’t really have to queue for any rides.

We drove back into the city along the freeway. The buildings of downtown LA were silhouetted in the hazy, early evening sun light. And the palm trees, with their long, tall trunks and leaves like Tina Turner wigs, were stretching high into the peachy sky. The City of Dreams.