LA to San Francisco via Monterey (California)

Day 5 Wednesday 7th August - Los Angeles to Monterey

Day 6/7/8 Thurs, Friday, Saturday 8th - 10th August - San Francisco

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On the road to Monterey

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 Santa Barbara - had as great lunch here at The Sand Bar - great Mexican!

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 LouLou's Griddle in the Middle - Kirby found this place on the interwebs so we just had to give it a go!

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 All the food is cooked in front of you by these friendly gents.  They do BIG breakfasts...

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 ... as you can tell by the size of Brianna's choc chip pancake (US5.95).  This is a No stack but you can get a 2 stack or 3 stack. My Lord!

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 Finally in San Francisco, we had a hop on/hop off bus pass so took a tour...

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 There are so many beautiful buildings in SF, very French.

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 Sausalito, bay area San Francisco.

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 Trolley car

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 Golden Gate Park (Japanese Tea Gardens)

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 Coloured houses - no two seem the same.  All used to be made of timber until the great fire and earthquake of 1906.  In later times they have been built and rebuilt using a fibreglass type panelling.

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 All aboard the trolley car!

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 Pier 43

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 The Golden Gate Bridge

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 The Painted Ladies, Alamo Square.

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 Alcatraz island and prison

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 Close quarters, all living in one room ...

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 Our pantry! Gus would do a Starbucks run for coffee and bagels each morning.  I had cheese and crackers for nibbles.

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Trolley car fun!

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Joolz xx

Los Angeles ...

Day 3 and 4- Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th August

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Hollywood Bowl

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That famous sign - hard to get a good pic of it!

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Starting the Universal Studios Tour

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Chateau Marmont - Linsday Lohan's favourite haunt!

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On an outdoor movie lot - building in background is the Town Hall in Back to The Future.  It is just a facade made to look like a whole building.  When you look through the front door, it is only about 10 feet deep.

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LA traffic

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Santa Monica Boulevard

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La Brea Tar Pits - tar oozes up from beneath the earth.  We could see bubbles rising to the surface and a black scum all around the pond.

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Rodeo Drive!

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I've been everywhere, man!

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I think we tired them out!

Saying goodbye ...

On Saturday, July 27th, a week before we started our US trip, my niece Jane, sadly passed away.  She was in the Intensive Critical Care Unit for a month before she passed and received such wonderful care and attention  from the doctors and nurses at Flinders Medical Centre but they just couldn't fix that little bird.   One nurse stayed hours after her shift to be with Jane until the end.  Suffering from severe Cerebral Palsy, Jane's mum and Dad have cared for her at home for nearly 34 years, choosing not to put her in a home or institution.  She also had many wonderful, dedicated day carers over the years who loved and looked after her too.  Doctors were amazed that Jane had never needed intensive care ever before this time. All due her parents wonderful care.

We had to leave a few days before her funeral and I hated not being there for my sister and brother-in-law.  They gave her a beautiful send off, in a pink coffin with beautiful flowers, releasing pink balloons into the air.

This verse was on Jane's memorial card ...  

HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD

A meeting was held quite far from Earth.

"It is time again for another birth."

said the Angels to the Lord above --

 "This special child will need much love."

"Her progress may be very slow,

Accomplishment she may not show.

And she'll require extra care

from the folks she meets down there."

"She may not run or laugh or play,

"Her thoughts may seem quite far away.

In many ways she won't adapt

and she'll be known as handicapped."

"So, let's be careful where she's sent.

we want her life to be content.

Please, Lord, find the parents who

will do a special job for you."

"They will not realize right away

the leading role they are asked to play.

But with this child sent from above

comes stronger faith, and richer love."

"And soon they'll know the privilege given

in caring for their gift from heaven.

Their precious charge, so meek and mild

is Heaven's very special child."

Our hearts are broken for Fred & Snow who have lost their only child.

xxx

Los Angeles

Day 1 - Sunday 4th Aug, 2013 Lunch at Geoffrey's Malibu

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Travelling in style...

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Completely forgot to take pictures of our lunch, so not like me! We are very tired so have spent the rest of the day chillin'...

This was the first thing we had to eat at Hugo's - it looks so much fattier than it was. The burger was grilled to perfection and the pico di gallo really good too. I only ate about half 'cos it was so big. US$12.95

Brekky this morning at Kitchen 24 which is just next door to our hotel. Once again, I couldn't eat it all. Two poached eggs, bacon and a really yummy homemade hash brown , pancakes to finish off. US$8.95 Tomorrow morning it's coffee and raisin toast! Note the vegemite? We are off to look at Movie Stars homes and tour Hollywood!

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Cheers - Joolzxx

Posted with Blogsy by Joolz

We are off! ...

... on the adventure of a lifetime! See you when we hit LA!

Cheers - Joolz xx

 

Posted with Blogsy by Joolz