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Published: June 22nd 2009
June 22nd 2009 From across the pond Hello, it's Jenny's friend Alex. I have arrived and have taken over. As I type (at 6.30am- gotta love jet lag), Jenny is stretching for our morning run down Santa Monica beach. It is absolutely stunning here. Gorgeous district (suburb?) of LA, with little boutique shops, and better on street busking than either of us have heard from most of the recording artists in the UK. We bought a CD last night off a guy called Andy Grammer (andygrammer.com) who was just stood in the pedestrian shopping street playing his guitar.
For me, yesterday was mostly a jet lagged fuelled haze. But I was greeted at LA airport (which is surprisingly run down- it mostly seemed to be a building site) by a very tanned looking Jenny with some helium balloons which are now residing in the back of Betty Boy. I must say I was most impressed with Jenny's driving.... when you've travelled with someone for over a decade and always been the one doing the driving, you can appreciate the apprehension! But we easily found Santa Monica and settled in for an afternoon of promenading and drinking beer on the
ocean. There was this bizarre bit of the beach where people seemed to be doing all sorts of exercise/showing off (?)- capoeira, yoga, gymnastic rings (we had a go on those- results were not pretty, see photos). But generally less preening than I was expecting- apparently this takes place in Venice, which we're headed to this afternoon on hire bikes (where you have to peddle backwards to brake, am very scared for both of us and those around us). Tried our first bit of celeb spotting (the main theme of our quick jaunt in LA...) last night at the Galley restaurant, which is apparently, according to Closer magazine which knows about these things, Bradley Cooper's (a very gorgeous actor) favourite hang out. He wasn't there. It was disappointing momentarily but we were cheered up by the amazing blackened halibut we had.
We have an action packed three days in LA ahead of us. Today it's off to Hollywood and Beverley Hills for, yes, more celeb spotting, then a VIP trip to Universal Studios tomorrow which Jenny has very kindly bought me for my birthday (we get to skip the queues), then a drive to Malibu on Wednesday for an
apparently amazing sunset. We'll put some more about our adventures in LA on our next blog.
P.S. For the benefit of Alex's parents, I managed to swing an upgrade on the flight as my headphones weren't working. 11 hours of premium economy luxury. Bliss.
Editor's comments Alex has nipped off to make some phone calls. She thinks she has arrived and taken over, but it is an illusion. I always have total control. Mwah-ha-ha-ha... Alex jetlagged is surreal; this morning she was as perky as a bouncy castle at 5.30am. I could have done with an hour or two more in bed. Am trying not to be too grumpy! Beach run in the sunshine followed by coffee should put the smile back on my face. As should this afternoon's celeb-spotting/shopping expedition. Whilst still reeling from my encounter with Ginnifer Goodwin, I am now on the look-out for Matt Czuchry, an actor that will be unknown to you unless you have watched the Gilmore Girls.
A final point regarding Alex's fear of my driving. This can only surpassed by my fear of her map-reading skills. For the first time in our friendship the roles are reversed. We could
end up in Missouri on route to the Hollywood sign. We may or may not see you again, friends. Wish me luck.....
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Laura
non-member comment
heaven help america
As my title says - heaven help them with you two map reading and driving!! (you know im joking!). Have a fab time and don't scare too many of the locals with your quaint british ways! Enjoy!