Californication

They say the best things in life are unexpected. This was a sentiment I never truly understood, until I lost my passport within two hours of landing in Los Angeles for spring break.

Let me preface this by saying that, as much as I enjoy the notion of spontaneity, I had meticulously planned my dreamy California escape for weeks. I would catch up with some friends in LA, and then spend half the trip exploring San Francisco on my own. Pro tip: When embarking on an adventure through California (or anywhere really), try not to leave your backpack containing all of your money and valuable documents in the backseat of a taxi.

All was not lost though. After calling all of the cab companies and being told they wouldn’t be able to get back to me for 2 days, I did what any completely independent, totally responsible adult would do. I called my mom. She told me that 1. I was an idiot and 2. I shouldn’t completely waste the trip and try to enjoy myself until the cab companies called back. Accordingly, I reluctantly cancelled my flights and hotels in San Francisco and spent the full week in Los Angeles instead.

Which brings us to my travel discovery. My favourite part of the trip was spending the day on a hidden, completely empty beach in Malibu. While it isn’t necessarily off the beaten path, I wouldn’t have had time to visit Malibu had I gone to San Francisco as originally planned. An old friend I met up with took me to this tucked away spot, picnic basket in hand, and we relaxed on a secluded strip of beach for hours. It felt like we had our own private beach, I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t a single pedestrian in sight. Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway and getting lost in the intermingling blues of the ocean and sky is an experience I hope I never forget.

Ultimately, my backpack did end up being returned to me a few days later, and with the exception of some missing money, I was lucky enough to get everything back. Just like that, my notions of being stuck in California forever and taking up a career as a street peddler went out the window. In hindsight, the setback that derailed my plans ended up providing me with a completely different, yet equally awesome, experience. I caught up with old friends, visited new places, and the weather was above freezing point. At the end of the day, what more could you ask for?