Day 5
Santa Monica & Venice Beach
Louise and I took a taxi from the Hotel to Santa Monica, which is about ten kilometres west of Beverly Hills. We had lunch at the Broadway Deli, at Broadway and Third Street. Louise spotted her first celebrity seated opposite us, veteran actor Bob Newhart, making it one all in the celebrity spotting stakes.
Walked to the famous Santa Monica Pier (pictured above), along the way passing scary homeless people stretched along the parkside bordering the beach.
Then it was a hot forty five minute walk to Venice beach. Nobody was working out at Muscle Beach, but a black body builder was posing on the sidewalk in a leopard skinned loincloth! (pictured below). Louise bought a pair boardshorts for $16 at one of many clothing stores. We watched the two on two basketball games, and amateur gymnasts on the gym equipment.
Then it was a hot forty five minute walk to Venice beach. Nobody was working out at Muscle Beach, but a black body builder was posing on the sidewalk in a leopard skinned loincloth! (pictured below). Louise bought a pair boardshorts for $16 at one of many clothing stores. We watched the two on two basketball games, and amateur gymnasts on the gym equipment.
A trip to Venice and Santa Monica shows a different side of LA. Venice, with eccentric people, sprinkled with homeless people, tatoo parlours, buskers, and small shops and stalls.
We then caught a cab west on Pico boulevard to Adventure 16, a major outdoor store. I desperately needed to replace my backpack, as the zipper had broken in several places. I bought a lightweight Northface Jester brand day pack for a bargain price of $49.
We waited anxiously outside the store for a taxi, whilst a scary homeless man eyed us suspiciously from the corner. No doubt, thinking that we were going to steal stuff from his trolley of worldly possessions.
We then caught a cab west on Pico boulevard to Adventure 16, a major outdoor store. I desperately needed to replace my backpack, as the zipper had broken in several places. I bought a lightweight Northface Jester brand day pack for a bargain price of $49.
We waited anxiously outside the store for a taxi, whilst a scary homeless man eyed us suspiciously from the corner. No doubt, thinking that we were going to steal stuff from his trolley of worldly possessions.
The taxi took us to Westfield Century City Shopping Centre where we had dinner in the food court, before walking along Santa Monica Boulevarde to our Hotel.
