Los Angeles

We left it so long to update the blog that we have LA to do too.  Oops.  So, if you're not bored already from reading San Diego & Mexico, read on.....

We've been staying with (extended) family in Hollywood for a few days and have really enjoyed LA.  There was so much more to do than we had time for.

Buster - our hosts' dog

The first day we drove (only way to get around in LA really) down to Santa Monica and went for a wander down the pier & got some lunch.  David did a bit of skateboarding and we did a fair bit of people-watching.  Santa Monica is home to the original 'Muscle Beach' although it's moved further East to Venice Beach now.  Santa Monica is also the end of route 66, although not much of the original road remains.  We've driven a few stretches of it over the last few weeks.

The end of Route 66

David staking in Santa Monica

Santa Monica Beach & Pier

 Sunday we went to the Hollywood Farmer's Market with Juliah & Dave (our hosts) and had some fab food!  We then headed up to the Hollywood hills to get a good view of the Hollywood sign (originally an advert for Hollywoodland Estate Agents!).  We then drove through Griffith Park up to the Observatory.  The view was impaired slightly by rain clouds (our first day of rain since we set off!) but we could still see quite a lot.  Family BBQ in the evening where we got to meet more extended family.  :-)

The Hollywood sign on a rare rainy day

The Griffith Park Observatory

 Monday the weather was back to being beautiful so we went up to a lovely little town/suberb called Pasadena and had lunch in a 50's diner (David loves 50's Americana).  We then went to see the Gamble house - Doc Brown's house in Back to the Future.  In the afternoon we went down to Venice beach and hired bikes to ride along the beach front bike path.  In the evening we went to see Thinderbolt & Lightfoot at a small indie cinema.

The Gamble house (Doc Brown's house in Back to the Future)

We spent our last day at Universal Studios!  This is where travelling in winter is great - we didn't have to queue for anything more than 5mins.  We did the back lot tour, saw all the shows and went on all the rides.  We even got to take part in the special effects show where David had to dress up as an astronaut.  

War of the Worlds set (Who left the gas on??!)

David the astronaut (Space monkey)

Bronze statues at Universal Studios

 In the evening we went for a walk down Hollywood Boulevard to see the star walk, the hand prints at the Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre and El Capitan (Disney's theatre). Unfortunately William Shatner wasn't out and about so we settled for Patrick Stewart's star.

Patrick Stewart's star on Hollywood Boulevard

 It was a mad few days and we enjoyed every minute of it.  Thanks a lot to Juliah & Dave - great hosts! + Buster too.