Day 144 - Hollywood, Santa Monica & Venice, California, USA

The plan today is a big explore of LA. We get up and get going, deciding to have breakfast in Santa Monica and set off into the Hollywood hills. We get a great view of the Hollywood sign along the way and then make our way to Hollywood Boulevard. 

Love doowylloH. 

Heading down Hollywood Boulevard...

Past Capital Records. 

Down towards the Kodak Theatre and Grauman, driving along the Hollywood Walk of Fame (well not literally!)

The lovely Roosevelt Hotel. 

 

Then onto Mulholland Drive for a gorgeous meander through the hills overlooking LA. It's a fantastic drive - one that you just have to do in a convertible. Once again we are in awe at the superb mansions along the way. Easily some of the most stunning properties on the planet.

We arrive in Santa Monica and head to 3rd Street promenade for breakfast. Just as we arrive I hear a huge roar from a bar which can only mean one thing at this time of day - Football. Man Utd had just scored quickly followed by Bayern equalising. We head to the Britannia Pub to catch the rest of the game. Nice IPA for breakfast always goes down a treat. 

Random dinosaur trees in Santa Monica. 

After finishing watching the inevitable we walk down to the ocean front for brunch. The Ivy has how opened on Ocean by Santa Monica pier now so we went in to have a look but the menu was very pricey and we are going to go to the original one on our last day so decide to find somewhere else. Just then, as I am leaving the restaurant, I have what is quite possibly my best celebrity spot EVER. I come face to face with Tommy Lee Jones and let him past me to get in. Cracking spot. 

We then go to a lovely place a few doors down called Del Frisco's Grille. 

On the look out for other celebrities. Surely Will Smith must be near by??

Very tasty Lamb burger. 

After lunch we walk back down the promenade before heading to Venice Beach. 

We arrive at Venice to the sight of my Mecca. Muscle beach. Shame I am not really in the condition to have a work out like I was last time I was here. So annoying as now I have the tan but lot the muscles. The opposite to last time! ;-)

Shooting b-ball outside of the school...

We then continue the lovely walk down the promenade. Great people watching spot but it is exactly like Camden with a beach! 

Longing for Pammie!

We finally find a shop to suit Nat's character... She has been unruly this whole trip. 

We then have a drink at On the Waterfront Cafe for a spot of people watching. We watched a great performance by an old lady singing in the most nonchalant way ever. Very entertaining. 

We then decide to head back as we wanted to get out early tonight. Oh how different it turned out. Now here goes my rant about LA traffic which is the most ridiculous, frustrating and annoying thing ever. Never have I ever taken so long to go such a short distance. An hour and half in we were a mere 15 blocks from Santa Monica. Only another 50 or so to go!! Everywhere was just rammed with no one being able to get through any traffic lights due to exits being blocked. I have no idea how people live here with this as driving is literally the only available mode of transport. Anyway, rant over. After trying numerous different routes we head up into the hills again and pick up the bottom end of Sunset which is actually moving. We finally complete the mere 12 mile journey in just under 3 hours. 

Passing Whisky's on the way home. 

That evening we do manage to squeeze a quick drink in pre dinner at the Back Room and them head to dinner at the absolutely gorgeous Eveleigh on Sunset. It was such a cool restaurant which has a "town house" type vibe. 

The other member of the white shirt brigade. 

We then head back to the Back Room for another few drinks as the music is really good in here. By this time Nat has lost all ability to booze and after four small glasses of wine is literally on the floor. Doom zone beckons. 

I cannot physically pass Mel's without a picture of this iconic place. 

Just about the enter the doom zone. 

Her bouncebackability is not what it was. After this Nat is very sick in the toilet then crahes into bed and starts snoring. Such a light weight! Very good day and night though.