Culver city and downtown (with some samosas thrown in)

We took a trip to Culver City on Saturday, which used to be home to the original Hollywood Studios and where films like The Wizard of Oz and Rebecca (one of my faves) were filmed. Sony Pictures/Columbia are still based here.

An added bonus was finding quite a few indian shops in the area, as well as a place called "Samosa House", where we enjoyed some really tasty 'chaat' dishes.

We then decided to take the metro rail to Downtown LA. It took about 30 mins and for $5 for a day pass it's not expensive. We were pleasantly surprised. Downtown LA has a very 'New York' feel about it, with the tall buildings, street vendors and general hustle and bustle you don't see in other parts of LA (because everyone's in their car of course).

On Sunday, while walking around Santa Monica, we walked past a used car lot which featured the Ghostbusters car! (well, a copy, but an exciting moment nonetheless.) 


We're still on the hunt for an apartment but have some promising leads through the 'craigslist' website. And I have volunteered to do some website editing for a children's charity based in Santa Monica, while my work permit comes through, so will keep you all posted on that. Until next time..."Busting makes me feel gooood..."

A hike in Topagna State Park

We went for our first hike this weekend. Reminded us of the Peak District, but hotter and several times bigger! A thirty minute drive from the apartment took us into Topagna state park; one of several in the Los Angeles county alone.

We hiked up a trail to 'Eagle Rock', with amazing views along the way. 

"I think we parked over there..."

Apartment hunting

While Richard was at work last week, ensuring those underpaid rock stars receive their royalties, I viewed several apartments in the Santa Monica area.

Apartments, condos, duplex, triplex, lofts...there are various names for 'flats' here, but one thing they all have in common is the abundance of storage space. No matter how small an apartment, you're guaranteed a built in closet or walk in wardrobe and still have room for a huge bed and en-suite. I guess they were built with that in mind, and there is the overall SPACE to do it here, but it's still great.

Most of the 2 bedroom apartments also come with 2 bathrooms, which is a bonus. Of the 4 I viewed this week, two stand out. They're both on the upper floor, so no more living in between people. They're in quiet areas and are part of no more than 6 units. They both have a washer and dryer in the apartment too, which I like as it means no more communal laundry rooms. Also more importantly they have a garage or car port and are within 30 mins walk to work for Richard.

The first (left) was very bright, with the added bonus that the rent includes all utilities. And it features our own guava and lemon trees outside!

The second was on a palm tree-lined street and equally lovely; bright, huge rooms, masses of storage but best of all it's own private front door entry.

Not sure if either of these will still be available when we're ready to move in the first few weeks of August, but fingers crossed. In any case it's been a valuable experience, if only to learn we could have access to free lemons.

Down and out in Beverly Hills

A proper trip in the car yesterday, to Beverly Hills and Hollywood, stopping off to stroll around Rodeo Drive and Paramount Studios respectively.

Having the car makes journeys a lot easier, and we weren't looking around for a car park at peak time on a Saturday in Beverly Hills either. There seems to be a 'parking lot' around every corner! Anything to get those shoppers into Prada, Chanel, Gucci, New Look...(oh dear, wrong street!)

We walked past, but did not enter, The Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel (above). Made famous in Pretty Woman of course. I wasn't able to check if Edward Lewis was in, ladies!

Apparently the afternoon tea here is the best outside of London, though.

After walking around Beverly Hills, taking in the designer shops, people with more money than sense, tourists taking pictures of a yellow Bugatti parked on the street (it's a car, get over it!) we decided to go somewhere 'real'. So we drove to Hollywood. 

Paramount Studios to be precise. Now, the photo of the whale mural on the side of Paramount will mean something to Star Trek fans, and fans of marine wildlife in general. These lovely creatures were the stars of Star Trek IV. Much of it was filmed at Paramount, and it was exciting to see the studio. We'll probably do the offical tour next weekend and maybe even watch 'Dr Phil' being filmed.

It was also stupidly exciting to see the Hollywood sign in the distance after we'd parked up alongside the studios. A trip/hike into the hills is called for I think.

The drive back to the coast saw a couple of wrong turns, but you find it's not hard to get back on the right road because of the grid system. People do use their horns a lot more here, but on the other hand they're relaxed about changing lanes at the last minute.

There happens to be a branch of The Cheesecake Factory opposite our apartments at Marina Del Rey. We hadn't been until now, but we had to take the cheesecakes 'to go', and were glad we did. We only managed to eat half each! How lame! (Just for the record, Richard enjoyed a Mango and Key Lime and I had a Chocolate Mousse cheesecake.)

My 'wheels'

Finally got my hands on the hire car yesterday. It's a Chevrolet 'Sonic', and is very high tech, with lots of buttons.
Took me an hour to read the manual. It's a small car by American standards, but considering what I used to drive in the UK (see below), it's taking a little getting used to. But i love it!

I managed a trip to a supermarket, and picked Richard up from work which both went well. Now looking foward to driving to Las Vegas or something. Once I fill up on 'gas'...

Road and buses...the American way

I crossed a road today. Not the first since I've been here as I've been walking everywhere, but it was a mammoth road called Lincoln Boulevard. Basically this highway becomes route 1, which takes you all the way up the west coast.

Anyway, I pressed the button, saw a man on the other side (I used binoculars) and was glad I wasn't the only one attempting to cross. The white man (traffic signal I mean) came on and I proceeded to walk/jog across.

It took me 25 seconds!! Walking very fast! I felt very, very small.

All turned out well, however, when in the supermarket I discovered a fantastic flavour in 'Lays' crisps: Chile Limon! Delicious.

These would later help Richard get over his bus journey home, when he observed the following:

 "This has to be the most weird town on earth - especially on the bus. One old guy handing out fliers and a group of strangers at the front having a discussion about it. The guy in front is on a laptop writing peace and harmony documents. Some cougar type woman gets on drinking beer and starts chatting to some old guy. Then an African man with a twitch gets on and starts sharing her beer. Oh, and there's a fairground where my bus stop should be."

(Bear in mind that we live a stones throw from Venice beach so everything above is explained by that fact.)

If you're not familiar with Die Hard, then you may want to skip this post

Because here I am, at the Nakatomi building! Otherwise known as Fox Plaza in Century City. The building itself was unfinished back when the first Die Hard was filmed, hence the interior scenes where Bruce Willis is scampering around in construction zones. 

But the forecourt, if you can call it that, was there from the start of the movie..the familiar round shape, and the big glass front doors. Very cool! Fox studios itself was across the road...we didn’t see Mr Murdoch or Homer Simpson either.

After all that excitement we headed to a Westfield shopping mall in Century City. I enjoyed a Watermelon Mojito while Richard tried to keep his composure after ordering a "Nit Wit" beer...very brave!

Hasta la vista, baby...

Or should it be: “lo siento, no hablo español”. Yes, after a week and a half of living among Los Angelinos, I’ve had to perfect “Sorry I don’t speak Spanish” as I’m regularly mistaken for a ‘latina’ lady. Which is absolutely fine of course, but not so great when I’m asked for directions.

When I do eventually speak to people (like at today’s driving lesson), my English accent is a hit. I drove through Beverly Hills today. Didn’t spot any celebrities (I was too busy keeping my eyes on the road of course....ahem) but there isn’t a shortage of entertainment programmes to keep up to date. Whether it’s Access Hollywood, Entertainment tonight, Extra, E! News, The Insider...the list goes on. I now know what Katie Holmes was wearing on the day after she announced her divorce from Tom Cruise. Even her hairstyle. It’s pretty crazy.

Funny thing is, I don’t get the feeling from most day-to-day Angelinos of really caring about Hollywood stars or celebrities. It just seems confined to ‘news’ casters and weather girls. Speaking of the news programmes over here....they’re not great. It seems that anything goes and everyone is keen to share their (sometimes libellous) opinions.

And they pepper their scripts with inflammatory words. Boy do I miss the BBC. A LOT. The male newsreaders on US TV are all older, leery men, paired with female news anchors that can barely read. But they look amazing, which is what matters in LA! Where is Moira Stewart when you need her....

I also miss BBC radio 2...4...5...all of ‘em. American radio stations are so segregated in terms of genre. There’s an easy listening station here similar to Magic, that plays at least 2 Sade songs every hour. Ok, I liked Sade, back in 1990. But enough is enough! And they’ve played Adele songs to death.

Thank God for Spotify. J On that note, David Bowie awaits.  

Running up that hill...(well, not exactly)

I've found a nice little running route of about 5k, stretching down to the end of the marina here at Marina Del Rey. It does make a change from running along the A41 in Edgware, over the footbridge. I wouldn't say it's better, just different! ;).


Very warm today. Just like yesterday...and the day before that....but we DID see a few clouds on the weekend!

First driving lesson

I'm taking a few lessons this week just to get to know the rules of the road. You can drive for 1 year in the US on the UK licence, but then have to take a test and gain a state licence.

I drove a Corolla today, much like this one! Drove up to Pacific Palisades, over to Westwood, and on the Pacific Coast Highway, finally down Santa Monica Blvd. The hire car arrives soon and I'll be able to join the throngs of people using their cars for everything. I'd like to think I will still walk to the supermarket to pick up a few things. I've also found a new running route, along the Marina.


There's a strange paradox in LA of driving everywhere while running everyday and driving to the supermarket to buy supersized food and drink. All the adverts on TV are either for cars or for the kinds of medicine you can take to alleviate the symptoms of sitting on your butt in your car for too long while stuffing your face. Silly isn't the word!

Out and about in Santa Monica

Our first full Saturday, and it was a hot one. We got a bus up to Santa Monica, via the 'Venice canals' near our apartment. Beautiful canals and houses....


We strolled around an area of Santa Monica known as "Montana" and managed to find some garam masala at a 'Whole Foods' market. Which means I can now make a curry as all my spices from the UK have arrived, too!


Having stopped for lunch, we stopped for some lunch, finding a decent spot and view. It could be worse....

Santa Monica pier reminds me of Brighton! But a bit warmer....


We found an 'English pub' showing the tennis. Richard got asked for identification (which he didn't have). We weren't sure if we were going to get served....but the barman used his common sense and realised we were both over 21.

Quite a serious issue I've discovered is that Americans don't seem to use jay cloths when they're washing up. Richard didn't seem to know what they were, but then he hardly washes up....it caused quite a public row! I'm over it now, but still no UK style-dish cloth :S. i'll let you know how I get on.