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We got up fairly early to catch the train to LA and Holiday Inn provided a free shuttle to the station. When we checked in, they offered to take our bags which would have been good. However our luggage was a bit overweight which didn't cost any more...it just meant that the rail staff wouldn't handle the bags...we'd have to carry them on board ourselves. That would have been ok except that they make you lug them up to the racks upstairs in the double decker train which is not easy when they're overweight. The trains are fairly painful because you don't have a reserved seat and there's hardly any luggage racks so its first in best dressed.
The trip took about 3.5 hours and was very scenic as it follows much of the coastline very closely. At times we were just behind the first dune ...almost on top of the swimmers and sunbathers. No wonder they call the train the Pacific Surf-liner.
When we arrived, we caught a taxi to our hotel, Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn in North Hollywood. After a quick lunch at Tula's Restaurant which is in the grounds, we arranged a courtesy pick to a nearby car rental where we picked up a Nissan Sentra for a couple of days.
First we drove down to Venice Beach and managed to park the car in the tightest spot possible with the help of a parking attendant who was a real character. It was so crowded and full of crazy people but it's a very interesting place. Then we drove to Malibu and up into the hills behind where we found some nice views of the Pacific Coast.
It was getting dark, so we headed back, found a McDonalds for dinner, and went to bed.
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