Wed 9 Jan - Los Angeles, CA

Our first full day in LA, with weather predicted as clear and 20+degrees c means we head to the beaches.

We caught the local metro bus and changed at Santa Monica blvd for Santa Monica beach and pier. In the bus we are clearly in the minority with the most common language being Spanish. Good experience with the bus driver having a bit of road rage and muttering to himself about slow granny passengers and traffic, "tight", "tight", "tighter". God forbid drivers cut him off - he leaned over and pretended to shoot them! Hmmm maybe not the right job for him...

Santa Monica pier was lovely and we shared a regular coffee about the size of a milkshake.

From here we walked to Venice beach and pier - you can't quite see them in the haze about 2 miles south.

We love the fact that Venice beach is still home to lots of "characters" and "interesting" businesses - such as the Green Doctors who promote a medical evaluation to allow them to legally "prescribe" maijuana for your "condition" - see the guy on the right of the photo with green surgical gear.

Muscle Beach outdoor gym is just the same and Hans blended in with the crowd... Not.

We never really understood that Venice beach was named for canals. Unfortunately most are covered over but a couple still exist with nice homes and cute bridges. Now we know why Venice is called Venice. Duh!!

We stop for a good cheap Mexican lunch - 4 soft tacos and a drink to share for $9. Di went to compliment the cooks and ask questions and ended up with a sample of Carnitas (shredded pork) and an explanation of Asado (steak). Hans just shook his head.

We wandered back to Santa Monica via Main Street and came across this... Pauline Hanson might definitely have some comments about shopping-trolley-murder. This is where they all came to die.

Back on the bus heading east and we decide to go from the sublime to the ridiculous (in our view) by getting off at Beverly Hills on Wiltshire blvd. A wander down Rodeo Drive just reinforced how we don't fit here - it just felt soulless and a boring compared to Venice Beach. We know which we prefer.

And to quote the Beverly Hills Cop movie the police cars here are so nice, shiney with no dents or scratches.

Home by bus with a quick stop at our local supermarket for potato soup for dinner (who puts cheese in potato soup? Californians)

A really good first day. Roll on 364 more...

Posted with Blogsy