Cailfornia=Florida on steriods

So, I know i grew up in Florida (which is very similar to Cali), but it really is amazing how accostumed you can get to a place (Chicago) after living there for only 3 months. I shall explain. Yesterday I arrived in Los Angeles to visit my best friend Jodi. The following things were strikingly different from Chicago, but quite similar to Florida.
1. The weather. As soon as I stepped out of LAX i felt the 80 degree sun beating down on my back...something i haven't felt in a while in Chicago. The coat i had wrapped in my arms to keep me warm earlier that morning would obvously not be needed this weekend. And i immediately wanted to be in a pair of shorts, if my legs weren't so pale.
2. The sun. Sunglasses are mandatory here! My eyes had become used to the soft sunlight of Chicago and the protection of tall dark buildings.
3. Wide open spaces. Los Angeles is huge and sprawling. A car is absolutely mandatory! You can see for miles down a road here. However, unlike FLorida, the terrain is much more interesting. In the distance you can see houses on mountains and it looks amazing at night. Buildings aren't very high here, so you can see plenty of bright blue sky.
4. Clothing. After Jodi picked me up, we went out for lunch. While we were eating i looked around and noticed how laid back everyone was. Sitting very relaxed in thier seats and wearing t-shirts, cargo shorts and flip flops. Girls were wearing mini skirts and were very tan and had blonde highlights. No one was smoking. I'd gotten used to the drabbness (which i like) of people in Chicago; sitting indoors with coats slung to the back of chairs; wearing long sleeves, scarves,jeans, shoes and socks.
5. Traffic. Unlike Florida, the traffic in Los Angeles is a bit of a hidderance. I was thinking about taking a cab to Hollywood Blvd, which after doing some online research i discovered was only 6 miles away. Jodi later told me that it would have taken me an hour to get there and would have cost me around $60 dollars! wow.

Last night Jodi had to work, so Tim (her boyfriend) and I went up to her resturant for dinner. The food was amazing!!! I was pleasently surprised by the chill in the air after we left the resturant. I was happy i brought a hoodie.

Today, i took JOdi's bike and rode a few blocks west to Santa Monica. There's a street called Promande on 3rd Street; it reminded me a lot of south beach. It was so nice to ride a bike again and in the breezy sun.

More to come. And pictures.