Until the Sun Comes Up Over Santa Monica Boulevard

Las Vegas was easier to leave than we were led to believe, we anticipated mega queues at check-out but the hotel was relatively quiet. We picked up our Sebring convertible and headed to Victorville. The scenery was absolutely stunning, wide open desert plains stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction and snow topped craggy mountains formed an amazing backdrop. Unfortunately the photos I took while we were driving just don’t do it justice.

We spent the night in Victorville, a typical desert one horse town, although popular with snowboarders apparently so I’m sure it will be more lively in a month or two when the snow thickens. We stayed in the hotel to eat as there wasn’t too much around and the temperatures plummet once the sun goes down. Our server Claudia-bob giggled every time we spoke and had one of those surreal extremely high pitched squeaky voices.

Then it was back on the road this morning, destination Santa Monica. As you descend from the mountains you can see LA on the horizon, an orange smog like haze covering the city. I think it’s a bit like Athens where the pollution is blocked between the sea and the mountains; however once you’re in it you can’t notice it. Driving on highway 10 we passed all the famous LA destinations, Hollywood, Beverley Hills, Long Beach, Malibu, et al. No sign of any fire damage, but I think that’s further north.

Checked into the hotel which is on Santa Monica Boulevard, or what used to be the end of the famous Route 66. We went for a stroll along the boulevard to the ocean, which sounds very romantic especially if you’re thinking of the Sheryl Crow song, but it would be more aptly called Auto Boulevard as most of it is lined with car show rooms. Still 1.5 miles later we arrived at the sea and the beach which was extremely impressive, white sands stretch for miles and although empty now you could imagine them crammed in the summer with all the body beautifuls. The sky was somewhat overcast at times, but ironically cleared after we headed back to the hotel and had finished taking some photos, oh well maybe tomorrow.

There seem to be a lot of homeless people on the streets here too compared to everywhere else we’ve been. They don’t appear to hassle people, but they do take up most of the park benches and seats on the sidewalks.

Santa Monica, and probably California in general is a non smokers paradise; bars and restaurants are obviously smoke free, but here you can’t even smoke outside in public places, streets, beaches, parks and even pedestrianised streets are no go areas!

We hope to head off to Venice tomorrow which is more bohemian by all accounts, and then do the tourist honey pots on Friday or Saturday for a bit of celeb spotting.

Song for the day: Beach Boys - California Girls

Nina & Andy x0x0

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