California...Los Angeles / Hollywood / Berverly Hills

We arrived at LAX after a 10 hour flight from Fiji.. Sophie must have slept all of 1 hour and me, 2 hrs... so given we had left Fiji at 9.45pm on Sunday and arrived in LA at 1.40pm on that same Sunday, this seemed like a 'Back to the future episode'!

 

Anyhow, we arrived there and after 2 hours of going through immigration and customs, we finally got out to meet Jeffry, the guy who was renting us his car (via the website relayrides). We quickly jumped into the Fiat 500cc and Jeffry drove us to very near to Walter's house where we were going to stay during our time in LA.

Walter is 89 and he is Jojo's (Sophie's friend from Sydney) grand father whom we met back over the Christmas period on shark island!  He very kindly offered for us to spend time in their pool house whilst visiting LA area.. so here it goes...

 

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Nous voici arrivees a Los Angeles après 10 heures de vol des iles Fidji. Sophie a du dormir 1h en tout et Nathalie max 2heures. On est parties a 21h40 et on est arrive a 13.40 le meme jour a Los Angeles. Et nous qui croyons que la machine a remonter le temps n'existait pas... 

 

Apres 2h d'attente a l'immigration et aux doines nous avons enfin pu retrouver Jeffry qui nous a loue sa voiture pour la semaine a Los Angeles. Nous nous sommes dirigee vers la maison de Walter che qui nous avons ete invitees a sojourner pour la semaine. Walter a 89, c'est le grand pere de Jojo l'amie Australienne de Sophie que nous avions rencontre a Noel a Sydney. Malgres son grand age, Walter est toujours a la tete de son entreprise et travaille toujours quotidiennement a son bureau a l'Est de LA. Ayant une usine au Mexique, Walter s'y rend egalement toutes les semaines en voiture !!!

With our little car

                     

 

We were living at Walter's place for the week in Santa Monica...

DAY 1

We ventured 'downtown' LA where people had warned us there was not much to see, well.. they were right!!! we found ourselves walking along big impersonal streets, seeing some great architecture but not really seeing an intimate 'city centre' like Melbourne offered us.

 

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Jour 1

 

Nous nous sommes aventurees dans le centre de LA. Nous avions ete mis au courant que le centre, etait plus un centre d'affaire que touristique.

 

Here is the Walt Disney Centre

                      

                                    

 

 A few impressive buildings

  

                                    

DAY 2 / Jour 2

Universal studios...

 

 

Special mention for Fiona aka the Ogress

Wisteria Lane (Desperate Housewives)

 

 

Nathalie's adopted parents for the day

 

 

Sophie Directing the film of her life

 

 

Day 3

 

We decided to have a relaxed morning and catch up on our sleep and the time difference and then headed to Santa Monica 3rth street for a little shopping...  and then down to Santa Monica pier and beach. In the evening, we went to a very nice Italian restaurant called Pecorino with Walter and one of his daughters. Lovely dinner.

I discovered how cool their bus were with bike racks so that you can take your bike down to the beach!

 

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Jour 3

 

Nous avons decide de ne pas metre de reveil et de profiter de la maison ce matin la. Nous sommes ensuite allees au centre de Santa Monica pour faire un peu de shopping. Nous avons fini notre après-midi a la plage proche du Santa Monica Pier. Le soir, Walter et sa fille Margaret nous ont invite a dine dans un charmant petit restaurant italien.

 

 

                            

 

 

Sophie had great time choosing her favourite pair of shoes whilst I was flipping through the options they were offering in personalising your pair of Converse with a specific pattern or even picture! impressive really!

Sophie a bien aime choisir sa nouvelle paire de chaussure Converse, pendant que Nathalie s'amusait a l'atelier de personalisation des chaussures

 

I guessed that in Santa Monica, they enjoyed to surf.. but of course surf in style.. Louis Vuitton Style!

 

DAY 4

We embarked in a 7 hr long Eco Discovery Journey of West Hollywood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey etc.... well, all part of what I was thinking about was that Nathalie's mum would have difficulties riding up all these steep hills that Hollywood has!

As you can guess we went through the celebs' houses and listened to all the facts that our guide had to share... I didn't really bother taking pictures of Elvis' previous house's bushes or Madonna's lemon trees =)

Jour 4

Nous avons embarque pour un tour guide de 7h .... mais a velo !!!! Tellement de colines ! Nos jambs s'en rappelleront pour longtemps !! Nous avons traverse West Holiwood, Bel Air, Berverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina Del Ray...
 

Here are a few though.. / Quelques petites photos

Greystone Mansion - Beverly Hills Landmark

Fresh Prince of Bel Air - House (outside shots only)

Sophie and I at Beverly Hills

 

Sophie at Muscle Beach - Little Venice

 

DAY 5

We drove up to Malibu and walk along the beach and pier and then headed straight for a massive shop outlet mall...

Jour 5

Direction Malibu, ses plages et son ponton et plus important nous sommes allees a de grands magasins d'usine

Sophie @ Malibu pier

 

DAY 6 (Weekend)

We had a lovely day with Walter. It started off by heading to the Farmers' market to buy fresh veggies to prepare a ratatouille in the evening and we then headed to the Getty Museum in the afternoon to view a little Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne etc.

Impressive, the entrance was absolutely free and they provide you with complimentary ipods to provide you with a commentary.

Jour 6

Nous avons passes une super journee en compagnie de Walter. Il nous a amene au marche de fruits et legumes pour acheter de quoi faire une bonne ratatouille et une salade de fraise. Nous sommes alles au muse Getty pour voir quelques peintures connues (Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne, ...) Le muse etait gratuity et meme les audio guides etaient des ipods !

Walter and Soph @ the market

 

Us three at the Getty Museum

 

 

DAY 7 (15th June, father's day)

Walter was invited by his son for a lovely brunch, so we joined and met them all! =)

I must admit, it's been a week I've been in USA and not eaten ANY bad/fast food.. so my view of USA is NOT AT ALL ' Supersize me style' for the moment.. well I must admit we're not in the Bronx yet.. so let's wait and see =)

Jour 7

Nous avons ete invite chez le fils de Walter Terry pour feter la fete des peres autour d'un brunch. La famille et quelques amis le tout dans le jardin ensoleile !!

Us surrounded with lovely American people!