Day 43 - the day we were Dodgers fans

24th August 2013

The morning started with a chat with Sar. It's bit crazy when you see how far away we are.

Our pins barely fit on the same image!!! 

We got up, showered and dressed (ouch!!!) to head back to Alcove (obviously). After that we headed straight off the the LA dodgers game against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger stadium. The traffic was ridiculous but we got there eventually. The stadium was pretty awesome.

We figured out between us what was going on - we'd not been to a baseball game before. It was great to have our dodgers tees on and be part of the crowd. It wasn't so great that we were on the losing side, but never mind. We were surprised that the fans are mixed (there's no separate seating for the visiting team) within the stadium. It's a bit awkward but interesting in terms of crowd behaviours and aggression. There were no anti-red sox chants, just a few boos every so often, but obviously, we were losing.

It's a bit crazy how pumped up everything is. There are constant cameras going round the dodgers fans such as the Kiss Cam (hilarious) and a Jump up Cam which expected poor fans to jump up and dance when it pointed at them. 

That obviously didn't work out ^^.

Each time there was a new batter, their photos came over all the screen with various stats on and, of course, their twitter accounts. Occasionally there was an accompanying video too. There were a few fitties whose twitter accounts we did take note of ha.

We had a great 8th inning which was exciting as all the fans were up and cheering. I was sat and cheering as with this burn it takes me minutes to get up - nightmare.

After the game we ready to hit the freeway towards the next hotel which was Santa Maria the halfway point between LA and San Francisco. We took the 1 and wow the drive was amazing.

Our hotel was in Santa Maria (a halfway point between LA and SF) and we ate at Red Robin. When we arrived at our hotel we had a bit of a nightmare. Something had gone wrong with our hotel (we still don't know what) and hotels.com had been trying to get hold of us to change our hotel. Thank goodness we had the car!! We had to drive about 30mins down the freeway to San Luis Obispo and although the hotel wasn't to our taste it was half an hour off our journey for tomorrow and was decent enough. Then it was time for sleep and to get ready for another day of being a passenger. Lots of love xxxxx

Day 42 - the day I couldn't move

 23rd August 2013

OW! That's all I can say. I think i must have burnt through several layers of skin I'm in so much pain. Definitely learnt a lesson! Pale skin is much better than red skin. I could barely move and that's not an exaggeration. 

Lauren and I both put on the loosest clothes we owned and the point at which we became too hungry to function we headed out to our new favourite Alcove. Getting into and sitting in the car was more painful than I'd imagined childbirth to be. It was a good job my chicken florentine crepe was amazing. After that, we were straight back at the apartment for Loz to have a fan aimed at her face (burn!) and my one aimed at my whole body. Thankfully there was a Law and Order SVU marathon so we definitely weren't sad to stay in! 

Later we had to pop back in the  LAX direction. The city looks amazing at night. Like a (very) mini New York surrounded by the amazing hills. 

We were super hungry and popped to Pizza Hut and then for a fro-yo which had red velvet batter as an option - YES! 

A lazy and painful day but lots to do tomorrow. Lots of love xxxxx

Day 41 - the day we spent in Malibu

22nd August 2013

Today Lauren insisted on spending the entire day at the beach to get a tan (she's been struggling haha). I, of course, do not tan full stop.

The drive down to Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway was stunning. 

The beach was just amazing.

We spent the day eating fruit and chilling - perfect! Until I realised how burnt we both were - whoops!

It took us 2 hours to do the 50 minute journey home thanks to the crazy traffic. 

Both me and Loz had to have cold baths (separately) because we were so burnt. Mine was really terrible and I ended up falling asleep in the bath haha. Pretty sure this burn is going to be with me for a while - ouch!!!!! Lots of love xxxxx

Day 38 - the day Lauren lost it

19th August 2013

The plan once again today was to enjoy the beach, however the clouds were still out. We headed out for brunch back to the same cafe. By this point it had gone 11 which is the time the forecast had it down to be sunny. There was no sight of that. This was the point that Lauren had a tantrum and decided she was angry at LA. Funny.

 So we went back to shopping. It was tricky not to spend all of my money (I had remembered it this time). I bought 2 dresses at Urban Outfitters (wearing 1 on pics tomorrow), 2 Alice in wonderland tops and both me and Lauren bought LA Dodgers tees (we're going to see them on Saturday).

There are some amazing designer shops which we hurried past and also some fab vintage stores/ thrift shops. I could have got massively carried away in those but got to think of both my bank balance and suitcase weight. Boring!

For dinner we went to a lovely restaurant in the designer complex ( I can't remember what it was called :/). Cocktails were not the best as they only served martinis which were the strongest ever! But dinner was amazing. I had salmon and strawberry salad and Lauren had...drum roll please...a steak a salad. We shared a red velvet cake for dessert. It wouldn't have been rude not to! 

A pretty laid back and uneventful last day in Santa Monica but just what we need (I'm sure Lauren will argue she needed a tan more). Final night's sleep in the Santa Monica apartment and off to fetch the car tomorrow. That will be an adventure all by itself I'm sure. Lots of love xxxxx

Day 40 - the day we went to Katy Perry's house

21st August 2013

Today we got up and went for brunch at the Alcove on the apartment owner's recommendation. It was amazing! Loz has steak benedict and I had smoked salmon on poached eggs and potato pancakes. Best brunch I have ever eaten!!!

After that we got in the car and headed into Beverly Hills.

We drove down Rodeo Drive but knew full well we couldn't afford anything for sale there!

We drove up through the hills to spot various celeb houses that we had addresses for. There wasn't much point in taking photos as all you could really see were gates but it was exciting to be there. This is the view from outside Katy Perry's. Amazing.

We paid a very quick trip to the Hollywood Bowl - we couldn't go in as they were prepping for a show that evening.

And we drove past WB and Disney studios. 

We decided not to go on any studio tours as most of the shows we didn't really know.

That evening we went out for dinner at the Hollywood and Highland.

Then back home for bed. Lots of love xxxxx

Day 39 - the day we went to Hollywood

20th August 2013

Today we got up nice and early and left the apartment. We got the big blue bus with our cases and went all the way to LAX and from there caught a shuttle to the car rental place. The queue was ridiculous, just to be seen (we booked months ago) I would guess about an hour, but we got there eventually. 

Meet Benny. She's a VW Jetta and Benny and the Jets is the themetune to our trip, so you know. 

Loz got used to it straight away, so proud of her because the roads are a bit crazy.

Sunset blvd ^^. We had time to kill before we had to be at the next apartment so went for lunch. We struggled to find somewhere we fancied but settled on a Mexican.

More like a Mexican feast. Then we headed to our next apartment. It is amazing!!! 

There are gadgets everywhere! 

Next up we travelled into Hollywood. First stop was the Griffith Park Observatory. The views were amazing.

We took a member of staff's advice and headed off in the car to get as close as we could to the Hollywood sign. The roads up were pretty scary but we made it :)

It was a bit windy up in the hills haha! ^^

Then we headed down to Hollywood Boulevard and took a big stroll looking at all the stars on the walk of fame. Here's just a few.

We went to Starbucks after that to get ourselves a picnic and then headed down to Vineland drive-in theater. We went to watch We're the Millers.

It was such a funny movie and such a good evening :) lots of love xxxxx