Between the desert and the ocean

I remember a remark by Braudel saying that the Mediterranean sea borders this other infinite, a sea of sand, the Sahara desert. If you think of it, here is not too dissimilar, East of here 2000 km of desert land; west, the infinite pacific Ocean that probably offered less vital exchange opportunity than the Mediterranean sea. The metropolis itself partly conquered to the desert, this is the condition of Los Angeles, or maybe of the coast of Southern California, between two wild infinities and far from other inhabitable lands. But instead of sticking together in a tight territory, humans have lined themselves along the roads as boats in a huge harbour. And what is the center of an harbour? that stretch of water that takes you in and out? The airport? The freeways? the car? Funny that entertainment industry would find its home here. Is there a connection? Maybe, if any, a poetical one.