I took the bus down to Los Angeles and had mixed feeling about what would it be like. I’d heard so much negative things about LA during my trip down the California Coastline , especially from people who didn’t have their own transportation. I was planning the stay 2 nights at Santa Monica and then a few nights up in Hollywood. I had to catch a couple of different buses to get to Santa Monica, which took me only a half hour longer. So, after hearing about all the bad things that can happen to me on buses, I was pleasantly surprised that the bus drivers were friendly and helpful. The buses were fine, which made me wonder how those people who only had negative things to say, just how they see life in general.
I arrived in Santa Monica and located my hotel, which I managed to book on-line at this site: http://www.santamonicahotel.net, and it was only about three minutes from the beach. I absolutely love it here. I found Santa Monica Boulevard with all these fantastic shops, restaurants and all these street performers. I met some great people stay at the same hotel I am and we had a few meals together. The main street: 3rd Street Promenade, is a pedestrian street . There’s absolutely no smoking on the entire street. The street is well maintained with no signs of graffiti or litter. They masterfully trimmed these huge hedges to look like dinosaurs.
It was great to eat at any of the cafes or restaurants, because no matter where it was there was bound to be a street performer. The atmosphere here is really a pleasant one, laid-back and totally safe.
I wondered down to Venice Beach from the pathway from Santa Monica, it only took me about 40 minutes. Santa Monica Beach has a series of workout equipment along the path, but at Venice Beach that’s where the ‘Muscle Beach’ is located. I saw men dressed in the smallest speedos, which looked really ridiculous. Venice is also the home of one of the biggest skate parks. I just loved to watch all the children flipping over gaps and practicing grinding the ledges. There are also numerous shops and stalls along the path, including an actual doctors advertisement stating his service to write prescriptions for medical marijuana!
California, you gotta love it, and so far I do. This really is a laid-back place.