So this morning we left the small, calm, serene Santa Barbara and set off on the last leg of our coastal road trip with a relatively short hop across to Malibu to have a good old nosey at how the other half live in the posh houses. Both the landscape and the architecture are stunning. On the left of the highway there are spectacular mountains as far as the eye can see. To the right are all the individual houses which jut right out over the ocean and the crashing waves below. They look amazing, although I still wouldn’t like having to drive my car directly onto the very busy Highway 1 so I happily passed on the idea of buying one of these.
A few miles further on and soon all tranquility was left behind as we entered the craziness that is the LA road system. Although used to the standard madness of American motorways now, this was one step even further into insanity. We had a sat nav, a paper map and written directions and we just about survived the long and arduous journey across to Hollywood and Highland. After the obligatory potter up and down the Walk of Fame (with Kate Winslet and Kermit the Frog among my favourite stars) we had a look at the famous foot and handprints, where I discovered that I have the same size feet as Frank Sinatra but Judy Garland had tiny little trotters. We then embarked upon a lightning tour of the other sights of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, including the Hollywood sign, shopping on Rodeo Drive, Iron Man’s house and the Playboy Mansion. All the predictable stuff that you have to do when you get to this town. Oh and Angelina Jolie was in town for the world premiere of Maleficent which just made the place that tiny bit busier and crazier.
We arrived at our hotel late and in the dark and it looked a little bit Bates Motel from the outside, but appearances were totally deceptive as it has been recently refurbished and is absolutely lovely inside. So I think it’s time I take advantage of the comfy bed and catch some zzzzs before tomorrow’s adventures commence.