Unicorns, Los Angeles and really expensive cheese

Last spring, my wife and I embarked on a — thankfully earthquake-free — micro-vacation to Los Angeles to visit her sister’s family.

There were many high points to the trip, from walking the beaches of Malibu and Santa Monica to catching brief glimpses of the Hollywood sign.

For my money, though, the pinnacle of our long weekend happened in Bel Air, one of the city’s most lavish neighborhoods. While we were cruising around and ogling obscenely luxurious houses, we were passed by an electric blue unicorn.

At least, that’s how many car enthusiasts would describe coming face-to-fender with a Bugatti Veyron, the fastest — and most expensive — production car ever made.

In case you don’t see why this was exceptional, allow me to explain. The Veyron is the flagship model of Bugatti, a European ultra-luxury carmaker and member of the Volkswagen Group. It costs $1.7 million to $2.7 million and can produce more than 1,000 horsepower.

Only a few hundred exist in the world, so encountering one in the wild is as likely as chancing upon two leprechauns playing pat- a- cake with a squadron of flying pigs doing barrel rolls overhead.

This was in a part of Los Angeles where so many Maseratis, Ferraris and Lamborghinis were on the road that I essentially stopped noticing them after the dozenth loped past us like a pearlescent, rumbling panther.

Even in that rarefied air, however, the Veyron demanded attention.

We encountered it so quickly that I barely had time to register what was happening, but I knew its profile from features in automotive magazines and trips around virtual racetracks. I immediately began raving to my carmates about its ludicrous cost and top speed and ruminated dreamily about its owner, who I presumed was an oil sheikh or mega-celebrity.

Their response? “That’s neat.”

That disinterest was almost as staggering as the car itself. I couldn’t believe they weren’t excited, especially after what amounted to a PowerPoint presentation on the car’s exceptional qualities.

But isn’t that generally the case with the things we idolize? Interests are, by their nature, highly individualized, and it’s rare to find someone who shares them.

Later that day, my brotherin- law was nearly overcome with excitement when we visited a high-end cheese shop. I mean, it was good cheese, but to me, it was just that … cheese. Delicious? Yes. But ultimately just so much fermented dairy product.

I suppose if there’s a lesson to be learned from this experience it’s that one man’s unicorn is another’s field nag.

Contact Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6205.