Today I had my first LA subway experience, and I'd say it was a pretty smooth one.  Jamie took the car to work today, but then we ended up having some friends who wanted to meet us for lunch at Universal City where she works.  So, I decided to walk the 7-8 blocks up to Hollywood & Highland, where I caught the Red Line going west.  It seemed like kind of a long walk, which is pathetic.  It's obviously been awhile since I lived in NYC, where the walk would have been nothing.  I bought my ticket ($1.25 one way) and headed down to the train, noticing the peculiar lack of any ticket agent or turnstiles to verify my ticket.  The train was pulling up as I headed down the stairs.  Since it was my first time, I wasn't sure which direction I needed to be heading.  Just as I figured out that this was the train I needed, the doors closed.  Alas!  But fortunately, someone down a ways stuck his hand in, which caused all the doors to reopen, so I hopped in.  I was just going one stop, but the ride lasted a good 5 minutes, very strange compared to NY.  The train stopped on Lankershim, which, as I had worried, was at the bottom of the hill upon which sits Universal CityWalk.  There was a shuttle, but I was already late, so I trudged up the hill and through the CityWalk.  All in all, it took me about 35 minutes door-to-door.  Not too bad, though I was late.  I think I just got my exercise for the year in as well.