I got up at 6:30am, and Todd finally got up at 10:30. We got going around noon and drove to Coco's Bakery, a chain restaurant sort of like Denny's that someone had recommended to Todd because of their pies. I had a turkey burger (which was actually really good) with fries, and for dessert I had coconut cream pie and decaf coffee. The pie was also good, but then so is almost all pie.
Just driving down the road and, oh look, there's a movie studio.
The food was good, but I'm not sure I would go out of the way (again) for it
After lunch we drove over to Venice Beach and parked at the pier.
The beach at Venice Beach
The view from the pier. Some waves today.
No Overhead Casting
View from the end of the pier
We walked 1.5 miles north along the Venice Beach boardwalk, which was about half the distance to the Santa Monica pier. In addition to the storefronts and people lining the sidewalk selling all sorts of crap, there were (from my notes) "skanky druggies" everywhere. While there were a few true craftspeople there, for the most part on one side you would have people selling crap like mass-produced laser-cut wood names, or cheap jewelry from alibaba.com, and trying to pass it off as their own work. Either that or someone would make a (primitive) chalk drawing or small sand sculpture on the sidewalk with a jar and a sign saying if you take a picture, give a dollar.
Then on the other side you would have the "Green Doctors" medical marijuana stalls every 50 feet with their employees in the middle of the sidewalk trying to hustle in customers. I read up on this after we got home: supposedly for $40 you can get an on the spot evaluation by a "doctor" to see if you "need" medical marijuana. If the answer is yes, and I'm sure the answer is always yes, you can then pay another $80 (that they don't tell you about upfront) to get a certificate that makes you "legal" for 3 months. You can't get the marijuana there though; they'll give you directions to a dispensary location away from the boardwalk where you can buy your medical supplies.
I don't smoke marijuana (the main issue I have is the smoke part - if it was legal and readily available I don't think I would have a problem trying a brownie or some other form), but if I did partake I guess this would be the way to go although it seems like a big charade, ripoff, and waste of money. They should just legalize the stuff, regulate it and tax it like alcohol or cigarettes.
But I digress. It was time to head back, so instead of walking back through all that ick again, we walked over to the waterline, took our shoes off, and walked back along the shore.
Skate park
Artsy. If you look at this picture, please donate $1.
The beach is a lot wider than I thought it would be. Santa Monica pier is in the distance - you can just make out the ferris wheel at Pacific Park.
Santa Monica Fire Department patrolling the beach
The horizon beckons
Why don't I live on a coast?
Waves roll in
Sailboat and seagull
Above: Filtered water :)
When we got back to the car it was already 4:30pm. We rushed back to the hotel as quickly as possible in rush hour traffic and made it there at 5:45. 8.5 miles from the beach to the hotel. An hour and 15 minute drive.
We told the valet to just keep our car ready and dashed upstairs for a quick shower and change, then ran back downstairs, got in the car, and sped off again for our evening at the Hollywood Bowl.
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