Wednesday started with a quick shop at the Third Street Promenade shopping area of Santa Monica. I bought some sneakers at the Puma store (for my ankles not for fashion) and Gem got some jeans. We also browsed a couple of excellent book stores in the area. After that we wandered down to the Santa Monica Pier to hire bikes and roll the boardwalk. This was a great experience in perfect weather...we got some old school Schwinn cruiser bikes and rode through Santa Monica and down to the very colourful Venice Beach area. Venice is straight up weird. Muscle Beach Gym is kinda freaky and there are more than a few oddballs walking around in their underwear soaking up the camera flashes...not to mention the smorgasbord of 'medical' marijuana shops. Anyway, we had a bite to eat, took some snaps of the skate park and then rode back up to Santa Monica. We ended up heading back down there at sunset to grab some cool video footage of the skaters and freaky deekys. We were pooped so that night was a quiet one in with a purchased movie (nothing untoward, just some good all american porn - joking of course!!).
Thursday started a little early - like stupid early. Basically we were both awake at 3:30am after a restless nights sleep, so we decided to shower up and hit the road east to Joshua Tree. We really had no idea what we were looking for...we just knew that Joshua Tree was a cool place of inspiration for a great many an artist, muso and...ummm...drug taking hippy. Its also the name of the second best U2 album. We also had no idea how long it would take to drive out there and as it turns out its not a short relaxing drive into the desert. Like many drives in LA its a cut throat assault on the senses and reflexes. There is a scene in the comedy movie LA Story where Steve Martin is driving the LA freeways with a hand gun out the window...shooting at the cars who are constantly cutting him off. Unfortunately i did not get my gun license before we left the hotel.
Anyway, after driving through the sunrise we finally arrived at the Joshua Tree National Park in the early afternoon...actually it was only 7:30am but it sure seemed like the afternoon to me. The landscape was awe inspiring - mountain ranges, rocky outcrops, desert flora and fauna...and our sexy Chevy Malibu cutting a swath right through the middle of it all. We explored a bit, took some photos (Gem stepped on a very spiny cactus) and then got really really tired. On the way home we tried to find Palm Springs but according to our ridiculously stupid navigation machine, it does not exist anymore. We got back to the hotel a little worse for wear...i cant even remember driving back...so we had a nap and then forced ourselves to go out to Monsoon - a Japanese restaurant nearby. Food was good and the beer nearly made me fall asleep in it.
Friday started with a hot brekkie down the road. My eggs florentine was ok but Gem's scrambled eggs were average. Gem then went shopping on her own and hit the Starbucks for some interweb time and a large strong coffee. I then made my way to a huge arty bookstore that specialises in architecture, design and rare books. I could have dropped thousands of benjamins in this place but ended up buying a book on LOFTS for $9.95...on sale from $45. I know, big spender.
Ange and Joff - I realise that it might seem somewhat controversial me buying a book on LOFTS given what happened with your book on LOFTS. I actually wanted to buy one for you guys too but there was only one left...I figure you can borrow and lose my LOFTS book when you come and visit. Sound fair?
That arvo was special for me. Gem had organised a visit to the Chica Custom Cycles factory without me knowing. For those who don't know...assuming that is everyone reading this...Chica is a legend bike builder who is based in Huntington Beach. He is also a great guy with a good sense of humour and a thick Japanese accent (despite living in the states for over 15 years). I loved it and if I had the cash I would most certainly add one of his bikes to my garage. Just need a spare $60k.
Friday night was our last special night in the USA so we decided to do it in style. About 2 months ago we made a booking at the Bar at Chateau Marmont restaurant (easily the most famous hotel in Los Angeles located on the Sunset strip)for dinner and drinks. Well, we certainly saved the best for last...this place is as cool as it gets and the food was some of the best we have ever had. No celeb sitings but we didn't care, this place is hard to get into and has a very exclusive look and feel. Despite everyone being super hot in this place, it was my wife that shone the brightest on this night (especially cheesy but also true). We had a great night.
Umm...ok thats about it. Today was spent doing chores like the weeks washing and posting more boxes back home but we also managed to get some more snaps of Venice and Santa Monica beach areas. There were a lot of loud mouthed black dudes playing pick up basketball games that were pretty funny to watch.
Tomorrow we head off to Mexico to have some serious R&R. We will blog again whilst down there and maybe once more before the long flight home. Its all coming to an end now and believe it or not, after 3 months away we are looking forward to being home again.
Bye for now, love Ads and Gem x
Hey guys, sounds like you've had an amazing trip! Great to read about all your adventures and see photos of all those cool places...and meals ;-)
ReplyDeleteBelated congrats on the baby from all us Watkisses. Gemma, you are incandescent! What a beautiful mama. You two are going to have some gorgeous children.
Love Kandi x