California Road Trip, September 2022. Morro Bay to Hollywood and LA. Duran Duran at the Hollywood Bowl.

8th September 2022.

We thought we would drive to Santa Barbara, have a beach day, find a motel and stay overnight. But it was so overcast and dull- really not beach day weather. This may have been due to hurricane Kay  forming just off the coast; I didn't know it was hurricane season? 

The drive from Morro Bay was a lot faster that I had anticipated, we arrived in Santa Barbara well before lunch. 

The Moon guide book had Santa Barbara as one of its highlights of  The Pacific coast Highway so I think I had great expectations?  Santa Barbara was very pretty with its street lined with tall palm trees, Spanish style architecture and beaches but the weather was not showing it at its best, we had a walk on the pier, then along the beach front and decided to drive on to LA. 

By the time we got to the sun was shining and the gorgeous Malibu beach looked even more  gorgeous than any photo can capture, I understand why all the mega rich build their mansions here. 

-No photos of any of this as my camera card has corrupted :(

The Waze App took us through Canyon Park and Laurel Canyon to the Andaz in West Hollywood. It was a scenic drive and we did not experience the legendry LA traffic.  

The Andaz Hotel was great, it was known as 'The Riot Hyatt' in the late 70s and a lot of the artwork in the hotel paid tribute to this history. 

Nowadays the Hotel provides a clean, quite comfortable place to relax in. The roof top pool and its fabulous cocktails were especially enjoyable. 

9th September 2022

Today we got the Hop on Hop Off Bus. This was not the best HoHO bus tour we have ever done - quite honestly there was not a lot to see, and what there was you have seen in the movies! But we got to see the main sites of Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

I thought Hollywood was tired, dirty and scruffy. Not really impressed with it at all.

Later we met up with our friends who live in California and went to the amazing Hollywood Bowl for a picnic, It was the best picnic ever.

It started raining just as Nile Rogers and Chic started singing, but it didn't dampen our enjoyment. Duran Duran and Nile put on a spectacular show.

This night at the Hollywood Bowl is one of the true highlights of my life, it was a night to remember and cherish - and I am not a Duran Duran Fan! 

Duran Duran at the Hollywood Bowl

Duran Duran at the Hollywood Bowl

10th September 2022

Today we walked the hidden steps of Hollywood West. Admiring all the homes perched on the hillsides, so much like Durban in South Africa. 

Back at the Andaz we enjoyed a leisurely, typical Californian breakfast of fresh orange juice, crushed avocado and poached eggs on rye toast. Then to walk off the excess calories we hiked up to the Griffin Observatory. 

Griffin Observatory, LA

Griffin Observatory, LA

As we had forgotten masks we could not go in, but it was still a great view and interesting building. 

Later we walked to the Tar Pits, Farmers Market, then drove to Santa Monica and Venice Beach and walked along the prom, looking at the sights! 

In the evening we had dinner at a really odd place called 'Hide' on Sunset Boulevard. it was odd, just odd! 

11th September 2022.

It was a very short, easy drive to the Paramount Studios to do our per booked studio tour at 11.00.

It was a Sunday so the studios were quiet and we didnt see any famous people, but the tour was really good with an engaging guide. Well worth the money. 

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour 

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour 

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour 

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour 

We were meeting up with our freinds again, so out  drove to Irving to meet them and stayed in hotel in that area for the night.