Another early start and more early (hopefully only early) fog. Past more farmland. There's a catch 22 with the Mexicans who work in the farms - the Tax department is losing out cos the illegals don't pay tax but without the illegals, the farming economy would not exist.
Here's some strawberries in the flying fog. The fog makes everything look a bit grey. It's not wintery or cold, just foggy.
We go through Santa Maria - known for wine, movie stars holidayed here in the 20s, 30s and 40s when making movies. And Michael Jackson had Neverland Ranch here. His trial was here too. When he was acquitted, he took a lot of his fans out there.
There's an Air Force base where Kennedy wanted the space program to run from. But when he was assassinated, the next guy wanted it in Texas and it ended up in Cape Canaverole. The base here is now used for spy satellites and test missions. Though if it was really used for spy missions, I'm bit sure they'd be telling us...
About the Missions, that we saw yesterday - King Carlos wanted to claim the California coast and make sure no one else infiltrates it. He decided that the Indians should become Christian and help build the missions and presidios to protect the bay. He asked Father Juniperro Serra to prepare this mission.
He planned 21 missions from San Diego to San Francisco but he died on the way. Some of the other compadres finished building the missions, finishing in 1822. There are bells along the road to indicate where the missions are.
After Mexico became independent from Spain and not being interested in the missions, they became run down and in disrepair. After the Second World War, they were restored with private monies. They are very active now are maintained by running tours and holding weddings. The mission road is called El Comino Real. The mission we went to yesterday was Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo and it was Father Serra's favourite. He is buried there.
Through Santa Barbara which became famous because Reagan had a ranch out here. This is our first pit stop - Santa Barbara, not Reagan's ranch. It's quite Spanish on its style - or Mexican, I'm not sure of the difference. (It's Spanish - I looked it up)
We pass through Montecito where Oprah has a house. Apparently she is one of those rich types who go somewhere, says, "this is nice. I'll buy a house." And then spend two days a year there.
Here's the traffic on the road on the way to...
The stars' footprints outside Grauman's Theatre allegedly started when construction work was happening years ago and a star of the time walked out and accidentally stepped in wet concrete. They decided that was an interesting thing to do, so it started. Stars are suggested by a committee but they have to pay a lot of money for it - around $30,000.
Past Universal City, where some studio execs in 1915 thought it would be good for the public to be able to come and see how movies are made and so opened up the studio tours.
We stop here...
First stop - walk up to see this...
Where once the camera goes into zoom shows this...
And Loewe's hotel, the hotel where the stars wait in Oscars night. Then they get the limousines down to the Dolby Theatre where they hold the awards.
Love these in the mall, there are quotes from every aspect of the industry...
And then it's spot the star star...
Spot the star prints...
Gene Kelly has surprisingly small feet.
Spot the actual star - I passed Danny de Vito.
Lots of people here - tourists and people trying to sell tours, CDs, souvenir shop discounts, people dressed up as different characters and just people everywhere. It's very buzzy.
It's great walking up and down, checking out who's there. On my way back, they've closed off Grauman's Theatre cos they've got a movie premiere in there tonight, so thankfully I did that earlier. I did thank the guy on the barricade for closing it some could get a clear shot.
Most popular stars, that I saw - Michael Jackson, John Travolta and Bruce Lee. (With the Chinese).
Back on the bus and then a drive through Los Angeles. First up to Sunset Boulevard, which leads to Sunset Strip.
Up on the hills are all the expensive homes. I tried to get a photo of Steven Spielberg's house but every time I snapped, there was a tree or a shop or something. This is the best I could get.
Along to Beverly Hills, which was formed when the realised the movie stars needed somewhere to live and they converted agricultural land. The guy who did it had a wife named Beverly,
On to Rodeo Drive, which apparently used to have a rodeo but that wasn't fancy enough a name when the movie stars came so it went from Roh-dio to Ro-day-oh. Meant to be the most expensive street in the world but probably more likely only on America.
We did go past another church where Marilyn and Joe Di Maggio married, but Joan also said that happened at the church in San Francisco...
Mr Wiltshire realised the stars needed somewhere to shop so he created the Miracle Mile of shops. They could always be found by the line of palm trees down the centre of the road. He named it after himself - Wiltshire Boulevard.
The Beverly Wiltshire Hotel is here. And for a price, you can stay in the Pretty Woman suite.
We go down the Avenue of the Stars where the stars used to walk to work (apparently) and you could take photos and get autographs - until the paparazzi arrived and sent them all indoors. Past the studios.
Down to Santa Monica Pier. Unfortunately, the powers that be don't want coaches down certain roads and they have to travel in truck lanes so we have to take the not-so-scenic route. Doesn't matter, as long as we get here. Which we do.
Santa Monica beach is massive and wide and lovely. The pier is great - shops and rides and buskers.
We go into Bubba Gump for lunch - one of the optional extras and one that I had decided to do. I'm sitting with the Danish family - mum, two sons and son's girlfriend, they are lovely - mum is a huge character. Also Doreen, the Kiwi lady who is travelling alone and we're trying to guess her age - the consensus is 80-something, and Joan, tour guide, who I found out is Dutch. So it's a fun and diverse group.
Lunch consists of salad and garlic bread, then I figure I should go with the shrimp dish. Sautéed in butter and garlic and I'm glad they weren't crumbed because half had the poo tube in, easy enough to take out but you would think a restaurant called Bubba Gump Shrimp Co would take poo shoots out. Followed with an ice cream sundae, which consisted of a scoop of ice cream, dollop of chocolate sauce and a squirt of cream. It was a nice lunch all round - food and company.
Then we have a couple of hours to wander around the pier. It's full of colour and activity.
I tried a wheel of fortune game - put in two quarters, pressed a button, something spun around and that was it - game over. So that was fun...
Found this - it will be the closest I get to going because it's 1.5 hours from the hotel and there's no public transport.
Met up with Doreen and we still had half an hour so went back into Bubba Gump's to have the coffee I didn't have after the meal. They even remembered me, so I didn't have to pay!
Onto the bus and we drive out past Venice Beach. I would have liked to get off and have a look here, but I'll do that next time. Along with Universal Studios, cos I won't be able to do that tomorrow morning as I had ridiculously thought I might!
Arnold Schwarzenegger was discovered at Venice Beach, at Muscle Beach, pumping iron.
We arrive at the hotel, which is right near the airport - handy for most of the people who fly out tomorrow. I just have to get a shuttle to the train station tomorrow. We're too far out for me to do anything tonight - which is probably a good thing.
It's goodbye to everyone. Here's Joan and Mike.
Then I join the Crowne Plaza rewards club so I can get free Wi-Fi and not have to pay $15. I also get a free coffee with it. Print off the only thing I hadn't printed - my Amtrak ticket and that's the day done. Just a bit of TV and emailing and games.
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