LA - we love it!

At last, a place with decent hair salons and shoes, lots of shoes, and a wide, wide range of food choices. This was also the part of the journey where we were finally able to tuck away the sun cream and bug spray. It was still sunny but since you spend so much time in the car in LA, sun lotion is not needed. And, this was the part of the journey that actually required us to hire a car. Luckily, Angel was willing to take this on - although technically yes I do still have a valid driving license for about 1 more year.

Trying to be somewhat environmentally responsible (nevermind the amount of flying we've done these 5 weeks), Ange hired a hybrid, Toyota Prius, highly recommended. It was so quiet, there were so many times we forgot it was on. The only noise was the GPS constantly telling us where to go, and then giving up on us and just saying 're-calculating'.

What didn't we do in LA? In our 3 days, I think it's best to just list the highlights ...

Food
- Cafe 101, West Hollywood, the 24-hour diner for all the up and coming cool cats, although we were there bleary-eyed after the flight from hawaii
- Jones at 3rd, West Hollywood, the poor man's dean and deluca
- Birds, West Hollywood, guess what? they serve chicken, what you might not know is that they have a late nite happy hour that people run to the bar for
- Liberty Grill, Downtown, americana in all its deep fried glory
- Bungalow Club, Melrose, poolside cabana without the pool
- Pho Cafe, off Sunset, just like being in Vietnam without being in Vietnam
- Il Fornaio, Old Pasadena, two words ... CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
- Taste Cafe, Melrose, a very classy place to refuel after all that shopping

Cinema
Arclight - it's HUGE - recommended film to see ... Into the Wild

Shopping
- Sigerson Morrison, 3rd Street, shoes, shoes, shoes
- Marni, Melrose, hurrah, sale, sale, sale
- The Grove, weird and wonderful
- John & Pete's Fine Wine & Spirits, ah ha, Sea Smoke Botella!

Museums
- Getty, from the art to the gardens, this is a beautiful place with a spectacular view of the city
- LA County Museum, currently expanding and the Jeff Koons locomotive sculpture for the new plaza is 'still under discussion' but the Dali exhibition was well presented; the recently created animation from the uncompleted Walt Disney/Salvador Dali collaboration was well worth it

All of this fun would not have been possible if it weren't for the kindness of Angel's cousin, Robbie, for letting us crash at his w hollywood flat. We're very sorry about the door.

And wouldn't you know, now that I'm back in London my sneezing has stopped, proving that yes indeed, I am allergic to LA ... blasted, the injustice in the world.

That's that. Trip completed, successfully I might add. Back to work we go until wanderlust strikes again.

Later dude!

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