Having just woken up 7am LA time, we work out that we must have been awake for 24hrs yesterday.

Of course most of those were not spent in LA, 11hrs flying and several meals later, we finally reach LA airport, to pedicatable sunny weather.

A surprisingly smooth ride through  customs, we are then thrust into the chaos of departures. We are not in a good state for the confusion that follows as we attempt to communicate with our ‘Lyft’ driver about the pickup point. 

However, after not too long we are in the back of a Honda Civic, crusing the LA highways with Black Sabbath blasting out, as we explain where Ozzy Osbourne is from, and why the amount of rain there is  probably why he moved to California.

For the record. Number of days rain a year in Birmingham UK -178 vs 30 in California.

We are soon checking into the Palihouse, Santa Monica. Feeling a little out of place as the achingly cool staff check us in. But they give us free cookies and lemonade so soon feel more relaxed.

A quick fresehen up and we fight our bodies desire to fall over and make a bee line for the coast. The Calfornia sun doing wonders for our well being. 

A whirlwind few hours result in me ticking off a few of our To-Do list.

1 – Buy a baseball cap

Heading down Third Street Promenade, a little like Covent Garden, but with more chain shops. We enter ‘Lids’, wondering again if it’s a little to cool for us, as a DJ is blasting his wares from the shop window. 

But its not long before I have 2 new hats. LA Dodgers cap and California Rebulic. One is soon on my head, forgetting to remove the stickers. Spot the tourist.

2 – Santa Monica pier

It’s the weekend of Labour Day here. Like Bank Holiday. So the pier is packed. We decide we maybe should eat again, and grab a Japadog to share. A Japanese twist on the good old American dawg.

3 – Walk Santa Monica Beach To Venice Beach

We didn’t remember quite how far it is to Venice Beach from Santa Monica peer. But you don’t get much more Californian that walking down the beach in the sun, surrounded by skaters (board and roller) and palm trees.

There’s people playing volleyball, gymnasts working out, a beach wedding and many more sights as we reach Venice Beach, with its many street artists and other weird and wonderful characters.

4 – Buy a Skateboard

I just couldn’t resit buying a board this time. It might not get a lot of use, but its an awseome souvenir, and I loved the experience of browsing boards, chatting to the staff and even got a free magaizne and stickers!

5 – Finish the night at Joes Pizza

We found Joes by accident last time. But it was one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. NY style pizza in the heart of Cali. A great place to grab a quick slice any time of night.

And that was about all we had time for. Our bodies are well overdue a sleep, so we grab a 6 pack of ‘Shock Top’, brewed in California, and head back to the hotel.

We manage one beer before falling asleep watching Penn And Teller. Hope that doesn’t happen in Vegas!