Long, open road and an ever-changing landscape. A hallmark of the day long trip from Dallas to Los Angeles.
My parents stand in front of the motel we checked into late the night before. Roadtrips mean driving long stretches and stiff, springy beds.
The Saidane men; Ali, Habib and Sami, post motel breakfast.
Baba is the sole driver on cross-country roadtrips when it's all five members of the family. The only exceptions are those with a drivers learning permit, who are going behind the wheel whether they want to or not.
The culprit of our slowdown. The minivan accelerates after Baba snaps his notorious drive by shot.
This boy, too, is stuck in traffic.
Eyes pierce the blinding asphalt road and the plateaus beyond. Soundtrack is set to 60s rock, and Mom may sneak in a Chicks song.
Precarious red rocks marked with dozens of white chalk names and muddied footprints; a pit stop we hit every trip.
EXT: Mountain range. Baba's eyes fix ahead, his camera in hand. One hundred miles closer to Grandma's house.
Parking paid at Santa Monica pier, car full with maternal relatives.
Ali shows off his skills. The ball takes the 1,435 mile trek with us, too, because soccer on the beach is Christmas tradition.
But soccer is put away this time– the rest of the pier awaits.
Lenses and shades face the coastal view. Flying friends are hungry.
Baba, Carter and Alec before their photo hunt. My cousins hail from Michigan for our every-other-year Christmas spent together.
Ali and Scott play "who's taller?". Ali might have some height on him, but the answer is cousin Nathan, who stands at 6'5.
The sun begins to set on Pacific Park Pier and rides come to a close.
Hunting for the perfect shot.
Tourists admire the water, boy enjoys the sand.
Santa (Monica) Claus blows bubbles on the pier. I am not the only photographer littering the beach.
Smartphone photographers focus forwards.
Grandpa Jim makes camp in the car while the family sets up tents outside.
Mom comments on Aunt Katherine's habit of bending at the waist, not the knees.
Sami explores on his own, squeezing into tighter spaces than the rest can.
Alec is ready for the long hike. He's equipped with binoculars and a backpack Baba gifted him years ago.
The long hike begins. Brother and sister trail behind children and nephews.
Family makes their return from the precarious self-made path. Baba is no where to be found, his camera guiding him further into nature and without cell reception. He returns hours later to a campfire and hot drinks.
