I LOVE L.A.! I know that's "been said" a million times on a million different t-shirts, but it's true. From the days when Robin and Dave lived in Whittier years ago, to the FIVE trips Duane and I have taken there, it's a GREAT, GREAT city.
We arrived Friday afternoon, and, except for the part where we got on the Avis car rental bus, and then went BACK to the airport because our car was rented through Alamo, had a very smooth arrival! Getting first class seats on the journey there DEFINITELY made it a lovely flight!
We stayed at the Marriot by the airport, as we did last time, and I can HONESTLY say that, with the exception of our hotel in Paris last year, this is my FAVORITE place to stay. From the FABULOUS courtyard on the interior, to the AMAZINGLY comfortable beds, to Alex, the concierge who knows EVERYTHING, it is the GREATEST place to stay!
Here's a picture of the courtyard. It was so lovely that we didn't feel the need to keep "going, and going, and going"....coming back to the room to just sit on the balcony was enough...!
Our first "adventure" was Manhattan Beach. We'd been there on our previous trip, but it was close to sunset, so we weren't able to spend much time there. We got there earlier this time, and had an hour or two to just walk the beach, check out the "artsy" lifeguard stations, and walk out onto the pier. I LOVE the ocean. It's "magical" to me, so ANY time that I get to spend there, is AMAZING!
Manhattan Beach
Duane and me at Mahattan Beach
Those PESKY pier sharks!!!
My "natural habitat"!
Those AWESOME lifeguard stations!
Dudes!
Another AWESOME lifeguard station!
After the beach, we headed back to the hotel to "hang out". I think we were actually in bed by 8:30...we're SUCH party animals!!! It WAS 10:30 in Minnesota, so we didn't worry TOO MUCH about it!
Saturday, we headed to Santa Monica. We had explored it a bit on our previous trip, and LOVED it, so wanted to do some more exploring. We found an AWESOME cafe on our last trip, so wanted to eat there again. The "Novel Cafe" was a "whole-foodsy, organic" type restaurant, and had GREAT food. I had the sun-dried tomato and feta omelette with spinach (SO California!), and Duane had a TASTY waffle.
The Novel Cafe
After the cafe, we headed to Santa Monica Pier, which has been featured in COUNTLESS movies and television shows...most recently, I saw it in "Flash Forward".
Santa Monica Pier!
Jeff under the pier!
Duane under the pier!
There was a memorial (for Memorial Day) being set up on the beach as we were walking...very somber, very cool!
Memorial Day Remembrance...
Crosses on the beach
After walking the beach, we headed to the pier to see what was there. I TRIED to find sunglasses, but this was the best I could come up with:
How about THESE sunglasses??!!
After time at the beach, we headed to Griffith Observatory. We'd tried to go there on a previous visit, but they were doing renovations, so couldn't get to it. It was worth the wait...what a COOL place!!!!
I COULD have posted a REALLY cool picture of a coyote that we saw along the side of the road on our way to the observatory, but Duane FREAKED OUT when I rolled down the window of the rental car to get a good shot. I'm SURE the coyote wasn't THAT interested in jumping through the open window to bite me, but from Duane's FREAK OUT, you'd think it was possible...!
Griffith Observatory was AMAZING! Fabulous views of L.A., the Hollywood sign, and really great walking trails...
The "Hollywood" sign from Griffith Observatory
LOVE this place!
The L.A. skyline from Griffith Observatory
Hmmm....
The telescope
The moon seems so CLOSE!
Duane and the moon!
Albert Einstein and Duane!
One of the exhibit halls at Griffith
A walking paths below Griffith Observatory
After spending a couple of hours at Griffith, we headed to West Hollywood, to go to one of Duane's FAVORITE restuarants...House of Pies...very 50's, very kitchy, very good. He had turkey and gravy over white bread with mashed potatoes, and I had a lovely steak with poblano chiles and mashed potatoes. OF COURSE we had pie...he had...I can't remember...I had PEACH PIE ALA MODE. It was AWESOME!
After House of Pies, we headed back to the hotel, hung out for awhile, then did some shopping along Sepulveda Boulevard. They still HAVE World Market's in L.A. so we spent a little time there purchasing stuff we can no longer get in the cities!
Sunday, we got up and headed to Pann's diner for breakfast. The diner looks EXACTLY like it did in the 50's, and I MUST ADMIT, the chicken and waffles were AMAZING!
After a FABULOUS breakfast, we headed back to the hotel to check out, then headed to the L.A. Farmer's Market, to check out the celebrities, and cool shops. No celebrities, but we DID have a good time looking around!
We had to fly COACH on the way back, but it was ALL GOOD, and a LOVELY chance to get out of Minnesota and enjoy some "coastal living" for a few days.
Here's hoping YOU were able to enjoy some time away from your "real life" for awhile!!!!!
