Alis girls Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Hi y'all. On third day in Venice beach. Still a bit jet lagged. I am knackered by 8 Pm and ready to get up at 4am. First day chilled and walked to santa Monica. Chilled laid under palm trees and just tried to relax. Yesterday got bus and Metro to Hollywood boulevard. Did walk of fame. Not impressed grubby busy and felt sad as full of mentally ill, homeless and just awful when you think up the road are some of the richest folk on the planet. YS wanted to eat in McDonald's on HB. The portions are big and they gave me 2 cheeseburgers I only ordered one. Told lads if no one wanted it would give to the first homeless person I saw. Gave it to a lovely Aussie girl who was so grateful I felt really humble. She was obviously ravenous. We got a Uber cab back and the cabbie was an ex pat who gave us a tour of our area which was brilliant as some areas we didn't know existed. Today WAS got 2.1 in Maths result from Bristol university. So some good news and celebratory lunch. Suspect if I drink I will be asleep by 3pm. After a difficult time it's nice to relax a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 AG, good to hear from you, M'dear! So glad you are having a chill out time and congrats to WAS (?) on the result.. result! The break will do you the world of good so enjoy and keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Have a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 I am imagining you coming over all Beach Boys - I hope you continue having a lovely time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share Posted June 30, 2017 ES got 2.1. predictive text wins again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Great result,well done ES. Have a lovely holiday,great to see all the sights from the movies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 3, 2017 Author Share Posted July 3, 2017 Hit Beverly hills today and when I say hit we drove up and wandered through the designer shop area. The followed signs for restaurant to find a OTT priced place where you would pay 10 quid for a soup. Wandered further with YS moaning about dying of thirst and found a lovely little Pizzeria where we sat in shade on pavement. OH and I had pasta boys shared what might have been 3 foot pizza. Humongous. We got iced coffee from 2 doors down and had leisurely lunch. Drove up into mountains an saw Franklin canon and some friendly ducks. Weather about 70 ish. They get higher temps in September/ October time apparently. Two days ago we set out for Santa Barbara. Got stuck on Interstate. Came off and went to Malibu and found a restaurant which was very weird. They seemed to want us out. Served by a guy who looked very inbred like in a creepy movie where strangers are bumped off and fed to pigs. Mighty glad to get out I can tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Wow, sounds like a real adventure! Not to keen on the sound of the creepy bloke in the bar though...maybe they were expecting the Mafia any minute! Or perhaps the pigs really were getting hungry Not heard of Franklin canon (family interest there!) Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Love your updates, so glad you are having a good time. The oddball folk sound very weird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 sounds fabulous! so glad you are having a good holiday, much needed by all of you; and congratulations to ES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 Off to see baseball match today as independence day. Not really my idea of fun but told it's family day out so have to do as I am told. Drove yesterday have to say Californians are courteous on road could teach Londoners a thing or two. Kept off Interstate. Also never driven automatic. So proud that didn't hit anything or anybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Well done you, driving in the US terrifies me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 I couldn't drive there either. Though they do stick to speed limits in my experience. In our travels we saw very few accidents. Am sure baseball on Independce Day will be experience. If you find you are near a Crackerbarrel store,do give it a go.It is a chain but prides itself on home cooking. Breakfasts are yummy,and lunch and tea and portion size is humongous and you can see why so are a lot of Americans. I used to get one cookie between 4! We are getting as bad here,we still share a muffin or cookie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Ohh Crackerbarrell is wonderful - food to die for - Uncle Hershals big breakfast all day - just huge you cannot eat anything else - friend and I sometimes share one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 Today we shopped for presents. Found a shop called Sugar which sells confectionery. Hope it doesn't reach UK. Then chilled on beach and saw some dolphins ploughing through waves. Sadly to fast for photos. ES saw a woman with her python giving it some heat have to say as snake phobic I am not sure I feel the same about going down there. Venice beach is a mish mosh of types. Tourists homeless and those trying to make a living. There is a seedy side. We witnessed some bloke possibly a pimp pushing a slim built girl around. I was ready to give him a going over with the beach brolly but not sure if he had knife or gun decided not too. As usual no police around when you need them. I am aware it goes on everywhere just not pleasant if you have young kids. Last day with car tomorrow so will have to see where to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 Several things noticed about California. The portions are big in restaurants , some of the people are big ( like some in UK) but very friendly. Regularly hear " where you guys from?" Toilets are restrooms. ask for toilet they tell you there isn't one. The one thing we cannot quite fathom is in restaurants is that halfway through starter they bring your main course. We grew wise to this and ordered starter and held off ordering the main for as long as poss. For a start table isn't big enough. Anyone else had this. But otherwise they are friendly and helpful. Home tomorrow. Dad's funeral Friday. Hopefully after this week can get back to some normality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
