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Where did I leave you? On Hollywood Bvd, or thereabouts I think. Yesterday was a good day.
First up was Greystone Mansion, former home of the milkshake drinking Oil baron from No Country For Old Men. Or is it There Will Be Blood? I get them confused. Either way, a fantastic set of gardens and fountains at a location that's been used in both Ghostbusters films amongst many others.
Next up the stunning Getty Museum, where the gallery dwarfs the exhibits. The repeated and aligned use of 30"x30" squares across the floor and ceiling gave it an almost Minecrafty vibe, and the travertine marble coating the surfaces echoed the best Italian fountains and sculptures. Around each corner there was a new architectural detail or fountain or plant. I got so carried away wandering that I spent a last hour rushing round the paintings before heading off down Santa Monica Bvd to the beach.
What a great place to watch the sun go down. After a stroll amongst the joggers and roller-bladers I wound up at the pier with its roller coaster and solar-powered ferris wheel. The old boards were well worn and moved underfoot. Moreso when cars rolled over them on their way to the parking lot. As the sun dipped through the smog I propped up against a coastguard hut and pretended I was in Baywatch. Off duty, of course.
This morning I caved in and took a tour of celebrity homes or, more commonly, celebrity gates. As nice as it was to be driven and have things pointed out I'd missed on previous drives, I got a bit frustrated by the speed we whizzed past the Cruise's, the Beckham's, etc without dropping in for a cup of tea. My favourite part of the tour was spotting presidential wannabe Donald Trump having lunch on Sunset due to the way the sunlight played upon his horizontal hair. Sadly Ivanka was not with him or I'd have demanded we stopped.
On finishing the tour I set off for Santa Barbara along the Pacific Coast Highway. It's been a struggle as it keeps merging with Interstate 101, which heads inland, and has no pulloffs. Still, I'm here now for my day of leisure, spending my accumulated Best Western points before the final coastal stint of an amazing holiday. 19 days down, 2,500 miles driven, sanity maintained at near-usual levels.
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Damian LA Photos : http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/17644336/1/Los%20Angeles?h=7f226c Cost Photos until San Francisco will go here : http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/17644336/1/Pacific%20Coast?h=14bc9f
Mike I see the D&D of Cambridge are heading you way, so keep a look out! (This was the Royals Wiil & Kate who married 29th. That nice Mr Obama delayed the swat of Osama to the following day so it didn't spoil their day.) Near-usual sanity levels? I'm sorry to hear that :-) Nice sunset! Good saturation, no burnout.
Mum Hope you have a good tiem with Charlie and Dawn. Send them my love x