Here in Los Angeles, the land of blue, sunny skies and cars, there are carwashes. A lot of carwashes. You can pretty much get your car washed at any corner of the city. And when I say washed, I don't mean you stand and spray the car and do it yourself. The carwashes here are deluxe, and even in the most questionable neighborhoods, you can pull into one, hop out and watch as a small army of men take over your vehicle with their rags and sprays and polishes. And unless you have a fancy, luxury car and want some kind of fancy, luxury mini-detail, you rarely have to spend more than $8-$10, especially if, like me, you go to Wednesday Ladies' Day. Most of the carwashes are like mini-malls where you can practically grocery shop, while you wait for your car.
The carwash I go to is in Koreatown, a fascinating and huge part of Los Angeles (from what I understand the largest percentage of Koreans, outside of Korea reside in Los Angeles) renowned for its restaurants, cheap tech shops and groceries. Whenever I go to this carwash, I pick up a boba and wander the hallway that today was filled with the most amazing Christmas decorations one would ever find at --- a CARWASH. There were lit reindeer and polar bears and penguins staggered with massage chairs draped in lights. The faux-Italian doorways preceded Roman pillars draped with cotton snow and fake presents.
It was astonishing and hilarious and not at all out of place. It's really why I love this crazy city.
It's going to take me all day to get my head around that Korean car wash! When you live in Portland and it rains 300 days a year, you simply don't bother!
ReplyDeleteThat's some exotic-ness there, girl. We do live on different planets. You know that, right?
ReplyDeleteI've always heard about the awesome car washes in Cali, but this is better than I ever could have imagined!
ReplyDeleteI love L.A. If you're ever in the neighborhood, check out the bathroom in the Chevron gas station on the northeast corner of Santa Monica and Westwood. Totally normal looking from the outside. Inside it's a wonderland of peach-toned marble and gold-plated swan faucets. (I think the owner used leftovers from his house remodel.) It is SPECTACULAR. In urelated news, I miss you. xoxo
ReplyDeleteAs Carrie said, here in Portland we have a "heavenly" car wash. But once or twice a year we go to a fancy one and get everything done. For old times sake. I love the idea of a Korean carwash with all the trimmings, however.
ReplyDeleteHa! Love your take on car washes! It is amazing isn't it... what a land we live in!
ReplyDeletefascinatingly weird.
ReplyDeleteI know that place! This kind of stuff is what I love most about L.A.
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