A post office with an ocean view.
Park free (with 30 min time limit) on Via Tejon, peer thru the glorious big pine trees as you walk the quaint brick path to the entrance & you'll enjoy a lovely view of not only the ocean but a eucalyptus grove in Valmonte, just across PV Drive.
Malaga Cove is a beautiful area, just one reason this is my fave little postal facility of all time.
The other reason is Rita, who works there. She greets me by name when I walk in. We chat briefly about everything under the sun if no one is waiting behind me.
Speaking of waiting, best time to come here is between 10:30 am & noon, after the morning "rush". As if there is a rush, because usually the line consists of only a few people, who are also greeted by name because everybody knows everybody here. Its like stepping back in time to experience Mayberry. People in "line" are chatting up a storm with each other, too. It's like a booze-free happy hour, any time of day.
Be sure to check out the cool greeting cards for sale here that are cheaper than at a card store, and quite unique.
And, although the facility is closed both days on weekends, there's still Saturday pick-up from the 2 mailboxes (drive-up or walk-up) out in front.
I'm always amazed that I can send a piece of mail across the country for 50 cents (soon to be 55). By comparison, I get 20 min or less at a local parking meter for 50 cents.
I was even more amazed at my experience yesterday. I had a last minute snafu, through no fault of my own, whereby I had to get a letter to St. Louis...fast.
I rushed into the post office at 2:30 pm, explained my dilemma to Rita, considered a couple of options, ended up using 1-day for $24.70.
If it doesn't get there by noon tomorrow, Rita told me, you get your money back. I'd just need to come over to my Mayberry P.O. & they'd refund my $.
Well, I thought, I'll be getting my $ back cuz there's no way this thing is getting to MO that fast. If I hand-delivered it (get to LAX, fly to MO, get to the address...) I couldn't do it. Even in a private jet it would be a logistical challenge. And either way it would cost a helluva lot more than 25 bucks.
But USPS did it.
It got to St. Louis before 9am today & was delivered at 11:30, their time.
In this day & age, maybe I shouldn't be blown away by such a feat....but I am. These people must've been trained by Santa, there's no other explanation.
So I get views, Mayberry, & modern tech efficiency....all for a ridiculously low cost.
Unless compared to email, I take issue with the term "snail mail".....although there's something quite delightful about snail mail, as described in my previous review of this post office.
Gotta go check my mailbox now. I'm hoping for a Christmas card from someone far away I haven't seen in many years. Maybe there will even be a letter inside. Sure beats texting. read more