Sunday, October 12, 2008

Marina del Rey, CA



Another short motor and then a beautiful sail in 15 kts in sun found us more excited to reach this part of the world than San Francisco. We’re not sure if it was because we were this far south or because we still had sun. The Marina holds 16 marinas and 9 yacht clubs but was easy to navigate. The transient dock is next to a small, family oriented park and is our cheapest moorage yet ($15.00 with electricity and showers/water). We weren’t interested in the Hollywood scene so visited the local suburbs.














A bus ride and we were at Venice Beach and further on, Santa Monica Pier and Beach. Tom was looking for bikinis on roller blades and Pam was searching for muscles at Muscle Beach. Pam found her muscles but Tom found his kind of people again. The board walk was very seedy with many tacky shops and fast food restaurants. The sandy beach was wonderful as temperatures have remained in the mid 80s. Santa Monica was a whole different place with 3rd St Promenade full of nice boutiques and the beach full of families.


Another, longer bus ride took us through Brentwood and BelAir to UCLA and then the Getty Centre. Perched on a hill, a tram ride takes you up to the Centre of five buildings surrounding marble courtyards. Each building has works of art from 1440 and on. Not being knowledgeable in art, we wondered how this would be but we quite enjoyed this visit. Sculptures, painting, ancient books make up quite a collection. (Many are on loan from the Canadian Museum in Ottawa!). Another bus ride and we enjoyed a jazz band in the park (sycamore trees, birds of paradise and scrawny junipers---that wasn’t the band).

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