L.A. Trip Part 5

Malibu.

It consists of a 21-mile strip of prime Pacific coastline. Located in Los Angles County, California, it is known for its many celebrity residents.

(southern view, from where we were ...)

We drove through Topanga Canyon to get to Malibu and I heartily recommend making the trip by car.

It is a stunning scenic ride!

The shoreline where we were was different from the vast expanses of beach I saw along the Washington coast line. The beach was peppered with cliffs and large rocks and that made for dramatic ocean shots. The climate is said to be "mediterranean like." I thought it was breathtaking and beautiful.

Richard and Cliff and I spent about two hours walking along the beach and climbing the cliffs. I shot a lot of photos of them being goofy and took pictures of the flora and fauna. There are more photos on my flickr sight, here, if you want to see ...

No clue with this flower is, but it made a great picture!

When we had tired of the beach, we began discussing food. And, wine. We found a little restaurant that was across the road from the ocean and we were able to sit out on the deck and watch the ocean and the traffic along the Pacific Coast Highway. There was a gigantic flower pot at the SW corner of the deck and while we sipped our wine, I spotted a hummingbird feeding on the blue flowers. Lucky me! I got this shot!

Between the gift dolls and the dolls I purchased at the convention, it was clear what I had to do. I shipped my clothes home and packed the loot in my suitcase for the journey back to Florida. Do I have my priorities straight, or what!?

I highly recommend Virgin America airlines for nonstop service to/from Fort Lauderdale-Los Angles. Loved the flight crew, and all the other folks I met along the way!

I hope to return to California soon, with my darling husband in tow. We've talked about doing the wine tour for years, so, who knows? If not this year, definitely next!

L.A. Trip Part 4

Richard and I took Danbo to lunch at a restaurant just off of Hollywood Boulevard and began to "catch up." After all, it had been seven years since we saw each other! We met doing a play together, "Burn This" by Lanford Wilson. We were instant friends, as though we had always known each other, and we've been friends ever since! I've missed him so very much since he moved to California, but one thing I can advise to anyone traveling alone: go where you know someone. Richard knew all the "good places" to see (although he didn't know about Edelweiss Chocolate Factory), so we covered a lot of ground in just one day!

After we were done eating, we stowed Danbo and headed for Beverly Hills. I saw where many of the stars of the 1950s and 1960s had lived, including my all time favorite comedienne, Lucille Ball! When these homes were built back then, they were considered to be mansions.

Given how homes have become increasingly larger over the last few decades (especially in Florida!), these houses seemed small in comparison, yet, they are still quite beautiful. I'm glad they didn't tear them all down and build McMansions. However, Richard did take me by the site of Irving Berlin's home. The folks who bought it tore it down and built a McMansion. That's sad.

 My lovely friend said no Los Angeles trip was complete without paying our respects to Marilyn. He knows what a fan I am of Norma Jean Baker, so we made our way to Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. Yes, it has a really long name, but, in reality, it is a small, intimate space that serves as a final resting pace for a number of "old Hollywood" celebrities.

The story goes that when women visit Marilyn's crypt, they put on lipstick and kiss the marble. Then, every evening after the cemetery closes, the grounds keeper cleans the marble and polishes it. Over the years, the marble has been stained pink from the lipstick kisses, making it obvious which crypt belongs to the most famous movie star that ever lived.

After a full day of sight-seeing, we made our way into the foothills that surround Los Angeles and headed in the direction of Richard's home. He said he wanted to make a quick stop in Malibu before we called it a day, and it just wouldn't do but Danbo had to see the Pacific Ocean!

We frolicked on the beach and while copping a squat on some rocks, I spotted a seal. He was riding the waves close to the beach and I managed to get a shot of him. (Or, her.) I asked Richard if we could return to Malibu the next day and I was thrilled when he said yes! If I had only one more day to hang out with my friend, this seemed like a great place to do it!

L.A. Trip Part 3

Hollywood!

Sunday morning, following the close of the Integrity Toys Convention, my good friend, Richard, picked me up at the hotel and off we went to see the sights! It was a Sunday, the perfect day for a stroll along Hollywood Boulevard!

First stop was the Kodak Theatre (where the Academy Awards are held) and I have to say ... it is much bigger than I could have imagined! The columns are adorned with the names of the "Picture of the Year" and the stairway ... well, let me just say I don't know how all those movie stars with their sky high heels and elegant gowns can navigate those stairs. Whew! What a climb!

Along Hollywood Boulevard you will find characters dressed as film stars and, for a small fee, they will let you take their photograph. Lucky for me I have a great zoom lens on my camera!

There were a couple of characters I would liked to have shot, but they caught sight of me and turned away. I learned very quickly to be less conspicuous.

My favorite movie star's hands and feet, in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre! Meryl Streep! (We're the same age!)

Madame Tussaud's fed my love of Johnny Depp with his wax likeness standing guard. It was eerie how real he looked.

Star Wars characters were very popular along Hollywood Boulevard, too.

And, then there's the sign on the hill. I couldn't leave without a shot of this iconic image! Fortunately, they have a place for you to shoot from, so we didn't have to climb the mountain! (Although, I would have done it in a heartbeat!)