The Dodgers win again! Everyone was trying to get to Downtown Los Angeles on this Monday morning. Roads were blocked, and fans were already standing around the parade route as early as 8am. As the parade start time got closer, more and more fans gathered.
The parade route was changed from last year. It was much easier for me to get to this year, and I also had more location options to choose from for a better view! I watched as the crowd grew and grew, but it did not look as packed as last year. I headed over to the corner of 7th/Fig around 11:25am, hoping to still find a good spot that wasn’t too far away. This is where the bus would turn from 7th Street to Figueroa Street. Despite showing up late, I think I still got a pretty good spot – I was right by the traffic signal!
My friend and I waited and waited for the buses to come by. The sun was beaming and it started getting hot. We were definitely a lot closer than last year. Last year, I was around 250 feet from the parade route (yes, I measured on Google Maps), and this year, I’m only around 100 feet away! I was so excited for the closer view.
We knew the buses were coming when the chants and cheering got loud. All of a sudden, everyone got taller too. Kids jumped on their parents’ shoulders, and everyone’s phones were raised up. Luckily, I was still able to see and not get blocked, and I actually got to see the World Series Trophy with my own eyes and not just a shiny reflection of it! Who else did I see? Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto!
There were so many people yelling their favorite player’s name. Once the buses continued going up Figueroa, the crowds started to disperse. It was pretty easy to leave the area – I was still surprised at how empty it felt compared to last year.
One thing I learned from this parade was that I should get a new phone. I compared my zoom to my friend’s zoom, and his photos were so much more clear! Maybe I’ll have one by next year… 🙂 I hope the Dodgers win again next year – I’ll definitely wear my jersey for the parade!