California here we are!!
Jan 28th, 2022, 04:37 PM
#61
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I will be brief. TR halted due to wifi failure at the house! Will try and catch up on the flight to London tomorrow! Over all too quick!
Took the metro to Hollywood today. More street crazies than than I ever imagined!
more later but suffice to say, we LOVE California👍👍👍
Took the metro to Hollywood today. More street crazies than than I ever imagined!
more later but suffice to say, we LOVE California👍👍👍
Jan 29th, 2022, 07:26 AM
#63
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Yo Crellston,
Another merci for posting this TR. Fave shot: the sunny courthouse. I too initially wondered about your timing and that fire. Glad to see that you dodged that bullet, if not some homeless characters. Btw, I thought your choice to cycle those specific areas was brilliant! And you referenced Neil Young--he still has had that ranch in Santa Cruz, no?
Btw, on my sabbatical year while we were visiting Gorda, I was offered a permanent teaching job at a Big Sur school--the head of the Parents Council was also the owner of the yurt hotel where we were staying.
Waiting for your next installment here. In the meantime, some associated musical accompaniment below:
I am done. the surf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMLEcCYmU4Q
Another merci for posting this TR. Fave shot: the sunny courthouse. I too initially wondered about your timing and that fire. Glad to see that you dodged that bullet, if not some homeless characters. Btw, I thought your choice to cycle those specific areas was brilliant! And you referenced Neil Young--he still has had that ranch in Santa Cruz, no?
Btw, on my sabbatical year while we were visiting Gorda, I was offered a permanent teaching job at a Big Sur school--the head of the Parents Council was also the owner of the yurt hotel where we were staying.
Waiting for your next installment here. In the meantime, some associated musical accompaniment below:
I am done. the surf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMLEcCYmU4Q
Jan 30th, 2022, 08:02 PM
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Back in England now. What better way to get over jet lag than to make a start on resuming this TR, albeit at four in teh morning!
Thanks all. Sadly we missed out on meeting Neil Young, Joan Baez or those other, more recently famous Santa Barbara (Montecito) residents, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Harry and Meghan). We were going to pop in for a cup of tea but you know how time flies by…..
The "road trip " part of our journey reaches its conclusion all too quickly. What an amazing experience. California, why did we leave it so long to visit? Californians, how do you ever bring yourselves to leave? However, end it does and we are now looking forward to living like Californians in our friends house in Pasadena, if only for 10 days.
it has been a pleasant drive, mostly winding ( and I do mean winding!) our way down Highway one. Then a major change as we hit Los Angeles. One and two lanes become three, four, five, six!!! A major change in driving style is called for. Fortunately, years of driving around London’s orbital motorway, the M25 is good preparation so it is not entirely alien (though passing on either side, certainly is!) . One thing we do notice is that the further south we get, the more aggressive the driving becomes - survival of the fittest /fastest I guess? Praise be to the person that came up with the idea of SatNav!
Passing through/around LA, I wasn’t too sure, we arrive at our friends place in Pasadena, home to one of my favourite US sitcoms ( along with Frazier) The Big Bang Theory. First impressions of Pasadena as we drive along the palm lined avenue - wow! What a beautiful city. Their lovely housekeeper Ros, helps us settle in and shows us around the place. It has been quite a drive so we decide on a quiet night in but not before we take a walk out for something to eat.
Friends have provide a lot of eating suggestions and we settle on one of the closest, a Taco truck, which sets up every night on the forecourt of a garage 10 mins walk away. We order a couple of tacos apiece, then a couple more…. These are so good, definitely the equal of anything we ate in Mexico (and we ate a LOT of tacos in Mexico!
We have been very lucky with the weather so far. We have had blue skies the whole way so far AND we managed to avoid the wild fires on the way down. Will our luck hold??
Thanks all. Sadly we missed out on meeting Neil Young, Joan Baez or those other, more recently famous Santa Barbara (Montecito) residents, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Harry and Meghan). We were going to pop in for a cup of tea but you know how time flies by…..
The "road trip " part of our journey reaches its conclusion all too quickly. What an amazing experience. California, why did we leave it so long to visit? Californians, how do you ever bring yourselves to leave? However, end it does and we are now looking forward to living like Californians in our friends house in Pasadena, if only for 10 days.
it has been a pleasant drive, mostly winding ( and I do mean winding!) our way down Highway one. Then a major change as we hit Los Angeles. One and two lanes become three, four, five, six!!! A major change in driving style is called for. Fortunately, years of driving around London’s orbital motorway, the M25 is good preparation so it is not entirely alien (though passing on either side, certainly is!) . One thing we do notice is that the further south we get, the more aggressive the driving becomes - survival of the fittest /fastest I guess? Praise be to the person that came up with the idea of SatNav!
Passing through/around LA, I wasn’t too sure, we arrive at our friends place in Pasadena, home to one of my favourite US sitcoms ( along with Frazier) The Big Bang Theory. First impressions of Pasadena as we drive along the palm lined avenue - wow! What a beautiful city. Their lovely housekeeper Ros, helps us settle in and shows us around the place. It has been quite a drive so we decide on a quiet night in but not before we take a walk out for something to eat.
Friends have provide a lot of eating suggestions and we settle on one of the closest, a Taco truck, which sets up every night on the forecourt of a garage 10 mins walk away. We order a couple of tacos apiece, then a couple more…. These are so good, definitely the equal of anything we ate in Mexico (and we ate a LOT of tacos in Mexico!
We have been very lucky with the weather so far. We have had blue skies the whole way so far AND we managed to avoid the wild fires on the way down. Will our luck hold??
Jan 30th, 2022, 08:30 PM
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For our first day in Pasadena, we decide to take a drive from the house out to Runyon Canyon which we are reliably informed is a regualar haunt of jogging celebrities. Though to be fair I am there more for the views of LA from above and the iconic Hollywood sign.
Sure enough we get great views of downtown LA but exercising celebrities are thin on the ground, indeed non-existent.
We do get to drive along the famous Mulholland Drive. What it is famous for I am not sure, but as is the case with many places in California they all sound very familiar probably because they are always being featured on TV, movies or in songs. Such is the power of the media!
Although we see no one famous, plenty of people are up here, exercising, meditating, or just hanging out. Not surprising reall6 and it is a beautiful park with stunning views and very easily accessible from the city. Reminds me in someways of London Hampstead Heath only more dramatic.
Sure enough we get great views of downtown LA but exercising celebrities are thin on the ground, indeed non-existent.
We do get to drive along the famous Mulholland Drive. What it is famous for I am not sure, but as is the case with many places in California they all sound very familiar probably because they are always being featured on TV, movies or in songs. Such is the power of the media!
Although we see no one famous, plenty of people are up here, exercising, meditating, or just hanging out. Not surprising reall6 and it is a beautiful park with stunning views and very easily accessible from the city. Reminds me in someways of London Hampstead Heath only more dramatic.
Jan 31st, 2022, 05:40 PM
#67
You were probably within proximity of some 'celebrities' but didn't recognize them because not all are seeking Kardashian-level attention. Where I live (Manhattan Beach near LAX), there are dozens of famous residents who walk among us daily without being noticed. Covid masks help the disguise...
You were lucky with the weather!
You were lucky with the weather!
Jan 31st, 2022, 10:49 PM
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You are probably correct Jean, though my interest in "celebrity" is such that Kim Kardashian could be standing right in front of me and I would have a clue who she was. Right about the mask thing though. We did see a couple jogging along dressed head to toe in black Lycra bodysuits, black masks and sunglasses. Wasn’t too sure whether they were trying to disguise or draw attention to themselves!
There is a U.K. TV comedy series "Episodes" starring Matt Le Blanc as himself that frequently featured location scenes of a couple of the characters jogging around Runyon/Mulholland area great show!
There is a U.K. TV comedy series "Episodes" starring Matt Le Blanc as himself that frequently featured location scenes of a couple of the characters jogging around Runyon/Mulholland area great show!
Feb 1st, 2022, 07:06 AM
#69
Oh, I'm sure the jogging couple were dressed for attention... If not (already) famous, hoping desperately they'll be noticed.
In the standing-right-in-front-of-me category, that happens to me a lot. It's after they walk away that I finally figure out who they are... or more often someone tells me!
"Episodes" airs here. I haven't watched it much, but the character played by John Pankow is an amalgam of real people. In fact, the whole show has a layer of accuracy... "Hollywood" is a strange workplace.
In the standing-right-in-front-of-me category, that happens to me a lot. It's after they walk away that I finally figure out who they are... or more often someone tells me!
"Episodes" airs here. I haven't watched it much, but the character played by John Pankow is an amalgam of real people. In fact, the whole show has a layer of accuracy... "Hollywood" is a strange workplace.
Feb 1st, 2022, 07:46 AM
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Happened to me once in a hotel in Paris. We were in a lift and this enormous black guy, got in and started chatting to us. Seemed very familiar but couldn’t work out why. Later that evening as we were going out for dinner, the E Street Band were waiting in reception for their limos to take them to the concert they were performing. It was of course, the late great Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen’s sax player. I have been a life long fan! if only I had remembered I would have scrounged some tickets!!!
Later that night when we return our whole floor was locked out of our rooms. we were down a small lobby waiting outside our door with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graffi , there for the Paris Open!
Later that night when we return our whole floor was locked out of our rooms. we were down a small lobby waiting outside our door with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graffi , there for the Paris Open!
Feb 1st, 2022, 11:01 AM
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You are probably correct Jean, though my interest in "celebrity" is such that Kim Kardashian could be standing right in front of me and I would have a clue who she was. Right about the mask thing though. We did see a couple jogging along dressed head to toe in black Lycra bodysuits, black masks and sunglasses. Wasn’t too sure whether they were trying to disguise or draw attention to themselves!
There is a U.K. TV comedy series "Episodes" starring Matt Le Blanc as himself that frequently featured location scenes of a couple of the characters jogging around Runyon/Mulholland area great show!
There is a U.K. TV comedy series "Episodes" starring Matt Le Blanc as himself that frequently featured location scenes of a couple of the characters jogging around Runyon/Mulholland area great show!
Feb 1st, 2022, 01:44 PM
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Great report! We moved to Carmel 8 years ago after living in LA for 26 years and still comment on how slow everyone drives here and what's considered "traffic" 
My husband used to work for Paramount Studios and we love Episodes! Glad you made it through Big Sur before the fire.
My husband used to work for Paramount Studios and we love Episodes! Glad you made it through Big Sur before the fire.
Feb 1st, 2022, 05:21 PM
#73
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Thank you Patty "We moved to Carmel 8 years ago” Lucky you! I can understand why. It reminded us of a place in Argentina where we were very tempted to settle, San Martin de Los Andes.
macdogmom - "The two British actors are so great in it “ Tamsin Grieg is a highly regarded actress in the UK . Loved her as the Mom in “Friday Night Dinner” a very funny comedy about, well, a north London jewish family’s Friday night dinners.Hilarious!
macdogmom - "The two British actors are so great in it “ Tamsin Grieg is a highly regarded actress in the UK . Loved her as the Mom in “Friday Night Dinner” a very funny comedy about, well, a north London jewish family’s Friday night dinners.Hilarious!
Feb 1st, 2022, 06:39 PM
#74
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California features strongly in my musical adolescence. I read somewhere that the music you listen to around the ages of 13-16 cements ones musical tastes for life. In my case at 13, I was too young, just, to participate in the Summer of Love. Nevertheless I grew up loving the music that evolved from that time and , to an extent whilst my musical tastes have evolved, those tastes still remain. So it was the especially curated California playlist on my iPhone that I forced Carolyn to listen to our drive down to Santa Monica. Amazing how many of the titles and lyrics keep cropping up as we drive. We start off on Chuck Berry’s Route 66 which is just at the end of our street in Pasadena on our drive down to our first destination of Sheryl Crow’s, Santa Monica Boulevard (All I Want to Do Is Have Some Fun). In between, the Beach Boys, Mamas and Papas also feature pretty frequently.
Our plan was to drive down to Santa Monica, spend some time on and around Venice Beach before driving along the coast to Malibu for lunch. We arrived at Venice Beach seemingly just as the place was waking up. First impressions? A bit touristy and a lot of homeless people. Not wishing to make light of the plight of homeless people, but I guess if you have to be homeless, a beach in California is better than a lot of places we have been.
On the beach at last
Pamela Anderson where are you?
A joint smoking shark - seems appropriate somehow
A bit too early for Venice Beach
We park up at a vastly overpriced carpark by the beach, take along walk along the beach and return along the promenade. A beautiful day and seeing the lifeguard towers dotted along the beach I am reminded of Baywatch (not that I ever watched it) The town is by now is beginning to liven up with a number of street musicians performing. We stop awhile to listen to a very good country rock band and a lady singing a number of Aretha Franklin’s and Otis Redding songs. These people are good! Vendors are selling all manner of trinkets and souvenirs and teh smell of incense and hash is thick in the air - thanks, but a little early for me!
We drive along the coast to Malibu, famous I am sure for a lot of things but the first thing that pops into my brain is that it is home to Charlie Harper, in Two and Half Men - way too much time watching American sitcoms!
There are some amazing properties in this neck of the woods, no doubt owned, if not lived in by the rich and famous. Not hard to see why. Ocean to one side , mountains on the other. Our primary objective is to have lunch at a restaurant in Paradise Cove which was highly recommended by our friends. Apparently beloved of celebrities as evidenced by the many photos hanging on the walls. Jack Nicholson, Marilyn Monroe, Merryl Streep to name but a few. I guess even the rich and famous need a local hang out!
The cold platter and ribs
Paradise indeed!
Piers don’t get anymore Californian than this
Looking back towards Santa Monica
The Beach Boys Surfin Safari apparently started here!
We check in with the Maitre D and score the perfect table on the beach right at the front. We grab a cocktail for Carolyn and a beer for me and read through the menu for some time before deciding on a cold seafood sampler and a rack of Kobe beef ribs. Seafood was superb but the ribs were not up to scratch and, having eaten a lot of Kobe beef in Japan, didn’t seem much like Kobe beef to me. But I nit-pick, overall it was a pretty good meal in an unforgettable location, worthy of our (unofficial) 25th wedding an anniversary celebration.
Our plan was to drive down to Santa Monica, spend some time on and around Venice Beach before driving along the coast to Malibu for lunch. We arrived at Venice Beach seemingly just as the place was waking up. First impressions? A bit touristy and a lot of homeless people. Not wishing to make light of the plight of homeless people, but I guess if you have to be homeless, a beach in California is better than a lot of places we have been.
On the beach at last
Pamela Anderson where are you?
A joint smoking shark - seems appropriate somehow
A bit too early for Venice Beach
We park up at a vastly overpriced carpark by the beach, take along walk along the beach and return along the promenade. A beautiful day and seeing the lifeguard towers dotted along the beach I am reminded of Baywatch (not that I ever watched it) The town is by now is beginning to liven up with a number of street musicians performing. We stop awhile to listen to a very good country rock band and a lady singing a number of Aretha Franklin’s and Otis Redding songs. These people are good! Vendors are selling all manner of trinkets and souvenirs and teh smell of incense and hash is thick in the air - thanks, but a little early for me!
We drive along the coast to Malibu, famous I am sure for a lot of things but the first thing that pops into my brain is that it is home to Charlie Harper, in Two and Half Men - way too much time watching American sitcoms!
There are some amazing properties in this neck of the woods, no doubt owned, if not lived in by the rich and famous. Not hard to see why. Ocean to one side , mountains on the other. Our primary objective is to have lunch at a restaurant in Paradise Cove which was highly recommended by our friends. Apparently beloved of celebrities as evidenced by the many photos hanging on the walls. Jack Nicholson, Marilyn Monroe, Merryl Streep to name but a few. I guess even the rich and famous need a local hang out!
The cold platter and ribs
Paradise indeed!
Piers don’t get anymore Californian than this
Looking back towards Santa Monica
The Beach Boys Surfin Safari apparently started here!
We check in with the Maitre D and score the perfect table on the beach right at the front. We grab a cocktail for Carolyn and a beer for me and read through the menu for some time before deciding on a cold seafood sampler and a rack of Kobe beef ribs. Seafood was superb but the ribs were not up to scratch and, having eaten a lot of Kobe beef in Japan, didn’t seem much like Kobe beef to me. But I nit-pick, overall it was a pretty good meal in an unforgettable location, worthy of our (unofficial) 25th wedding an anniversary celebration.
Feb 2nd, 2022, 11:03 AM
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Crellston, this is a great TR, one that combines interesting imagery and interesting commentary. But I'm having difficulty: are you the shark shown, or the guy with the glasses?
That seafood shot!
*MacDog and Crellston: Neil Young's above-mentioned Redwoods ranch gets a fairly-detailed description in rocker Dave Grohl's recent memoir 'The Storyteller'.
I am done. the end.
That seafood shot!
*MacDog and Crellston: Neil Young's above-mentioned Redwoods ranch gets a fairly-detailed description in rocker Dave Grohl's recent memoir 'The Storyteller'.
I am done. the end.
Feb 2nd, 2022, 11:29 AM
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Thank you Patty "We moved to Carmel 8 years ago” Lucky you! I can understand why. It reminded us of a place in Argentina where we were very tempted to settle, San Martin de Los Andes.
macdogmom - "The two British actors are so great in it “ Tamsin Grieg is a highly regarded actress in the UK . Loved her as the Mom in “Friday Night Dinner” a very funny comedy about, well, a north London jewish family’s Friday night dinners.Hilarious!
macdogmom - "The two British actors are so great in it “ Tamsin Grieg is a highly regarded actress in the UK . Loved her as the Mom in “Friday Night Dinner” a very funny comedy about, well, a north London jewish family’s Friday night dinners.Hilarious!
Feb 2nd, 2022, 11:39 AM
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When we first moved to Los Angeles in 1989, I was trying to impress on my wife that this was a good move for us, so I took her on a trip to Malibu. Loaded up the cassette player with the Beach Boys greatest hits, had the sun roof open, beautiful day. We were driving down a small road in back of some beach front condos with the window down and we heard this very distinctive voice talking to his neighbor and it was Dennis Weaver of Gunsmoke and McCloud fame! It was so cool...then we drove back to our little one bedroom apartment in North Hollywood! Welcome to LA!
Feb 3rd, 2022, 12:12 AM
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Feb 3rd, 2022, 12:15 AM
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Crellston, this is a great TR, one that combines interesting imagery and interesting commentary. But I'm having difficulty: are you the shark shown, or the guy with the glasses?
That seafood shot!
*MacDog and Crellston: Neil Young's above-mentioned Redwoods ranch gets a fairly-detailed description in rocker Dave Grohl's recent memoir 'The Storyteller'.
I am done. the end.
That seafood shot!
*MacDog and Crellston: Neil Young's above-mentioned Redwoods ranch gets a fairly-detailed description in rocker Dave Grohl's recent memoir 'The Storyteller'.
I am done. the end.
Didn’t realise Dave Grohl had published his autobiography. I must look that one out. Thanks.
