Heat waves and snow storms

Sunday 01 March - Weather very hot and sunny

As we watch the Weather Channel on TV and see the Tornado warnings in Tennessee and winter storm warnings as far south as Kentucky, Georgia and the Carolinas, we are basking in a heat wave in LA

A very lazy morning is in order as we do our domestic chore of laundry. Eventually, close to midday, we walk up to Lincoln Blvd and catch the 'Big Blue Bus' into Santa Monica. We were joined on the bus by one of those people that you pray won't sit next to you. This particular gentleman assailed other passengers with a long rambling diatribe followed by what can only be described as a wailing song sung in a croaking voice. Never a dull moment in LA.

Third Street Santa Monica is the centre of Santa Monica was alive with people. The shops were all open, the streetside cafes and restaurants full and the centre of the pedestrian precinct full of street performers. After buying an essential piece of fashion accessory, sun-glasses, we strolled up the street. Eventually we realised lunch was needed and we found a seat in an open-air French-style restaurant. We had a front-row view of the street and everything going on as we ate Nicoise and Caeser salads washed down with 1664 beer from France.

New shoes for me were next on the agenda as my sandals were split and falling to pieces. Just to fly the British flag, we headed for Clarks shoe shop. One assistant very keen to make the UK connection wanted to tell us about the Clarks MD visiting each year!

Loaded with shopping we headed down to the sea again and explored Pallisades Park along the bluffs above Santa Monica Beach. Beautifully laid out and very green, there was a very pleasant sea breeze which helped moderate the temperature which was in the 80s! Rather strangely, in the midst of the park, we came across people setting up a 'Soup Kitchen' for homeless people. Longing around in the middle of the well-dressed sunday strollers were lots of homeless people waiting patiently for a free hand-out. Finally, we wandered back up opulent Wilshire Blvd back to 4th street to catch the bus again.

Back at the hotel, the hot tub beckoned again prior to an expedition to the near-by Thai restaurant for dinner. The TV is forecasting up 12 inches of snow in Boston and much of the east coast overnight as we wander back the hotel with the temperature still in the 60s.

Lazy morning, laundry, bus to Santa Monica. Shops, sunglasses, lunch, shoes. Pallisades park, bus back, hot tub and Thai food for dinner