The story so far

We're online in Starbucks having our breakfasts, blogging and watching the world go by on Santa Monica Boulevard, and I have a bit of time to do a trip update.

We went to the Farmers' Market and The Grove on Sunday; had lunch with Peggy and her mate which was fun. The Farmers' Market wasn't what we expected - I thought it would be lots of produce stalls, but in fact there were a few produce stalls and lots of food stalls selling pretty much any kind of food you could want to eat. We got lunch from a Mexican place; I had tacos and cactus salad, which I've never had before - and having tried it once, don't really feel the need to have it again. Then Nez and I went up to Hollywood Boulevard and did a good chunk of the Walk of Fame, including this time finding Keanu's star, which was hidden under the preparations for the Oscars last time I was here.

Then we met some of Nez's friends, Annabelle, Alicia and Audrey, for dinner at La Clafoutis on Sunset which was good - nice food and an excellent people-watching spot.

Monday, Annabelle and Alicia picked us up and we went to the Getty Villa at Malibu which was interesting - a reconstruction of a villa of the sort that would have been built at Herculaneum, with beautiful gardens and water features (which I just wanted to get in - it's pretty hot here for a Northern girl). We had a guided tour from an ex teacher who made us all feel a bit like we were on a primary school trip - but it was worth getting the tour just to get the history of the place.

Then we drove up the PCH (which has to be one of the best roads in the world) for shrimp and fries (of course) at Neptune's Net.

Tuesday we all went to downtown LA so Nez could take photos for her project; saw the Disney Hall, and then had a bit of afternoon tea in the Biltmore Hotel where the Oscars were held in the 1930s.

Yesterday Nez and I went up to the Griffith Observatory which is ace - fantastic views over LA, high up so you get a lovely breeze. We both took loads of photos because I bought myself a fab little Nikon.

And later today we're due to do something pretty exciting but I'm not going to jinx the possibilities by saying anything. I'll tell you later!