I end up in this hotel in Orange County whose name refers to two trees for no apparent reason—there are no trees around, only parking lots, enormous empty parking lots. I have no idea what to do with nine free hours in front of me and no car. Every attraction is at least four miles away; even if I wished to rent a car I would have to walk five miles in the opposite direction from all the attractions, which is not worth it.

I could resign myself: Read or watch HBO until my...