...and finally

..three days in our favourite place of all, Santa Monica. We love LA, we feel a real buzz when we drive down Sunset, along Wilshire, towards the ocean. We stay in an hotel which considers itself "hip" when we aren't hip in the slightest, but it suits us and hopefully this time, they won't lose our car.

 

We are comfortable here. We've been here enough that we feel no need to go sightseeing but simply enjoy hanging out with friends, soaking up the great atmosphere, the comfortable temperatures and, of course, enjoying delicious food. Driving here from San Diego today, we spent a happy hour with Anne in Santa Ana, sharing tales of our travels and giggling about the silly things we'll remember long after we're home.

 

 

Here, more than anywhere, we consider ourselves fortunate. Fortunate enough to be able to share a bit of the good life here every once in a while and better still, know so many lovely people to share it all with.

 

 

The last three days of our trip will be as fun-packed as the first two weeks, I'm sure, but somehow, they will be extra-special!

 

Ah, the ocean!

"Home" in San Diego is this gorgeous downtown apartment, thanks to our generous friends Kevin and David....in this picture, framed in the arch. Just there, behind the hedge is a beautiful pool in which I enjoyed a cool dip when we got back yesterday.

Though we love being in the city with everything a step away, today we explored a little further afield. First stop, the "Old City" - actually a couple of freeway junctions north of here.

For some reason, none of us was overimpressed by this way too commercial collection of faux historic buildings and we didn't stay long. Instead we got back in the car and drove to La Jolla, a little further north, where we enjoyed mooching the classy streets and taking a little ocean air.

Not only that, but there was a great textile art gallery there too. How very civilised!