So we spent a couple of days in the sunshine in Santa Barbara. Really nice place with a good beach and pier and plenty of shops to keep Ele amused. We had a look around the courthouse in the centre of town and went up its clock tower for a good view of the area.

We then moved onto Santa Monica which is basically part of LA. Spent the first day down on the beach where we hired a couple of choppers (a type of three wheeled bike) and cruised down to Venice beach where we got to see the typical Baywatch style lifeguard huts. There was no Pamela Anderson esque running though - from either of us!!! Next day we headed into Hollywood where we walked along Hollywood Boulevard and saw the Chinese Theatre with the famous handprints and also the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars take place. Then we found a good spot to take piccies of the Hollywood sign before driving down Sunset Boulevard and into Beverly Hills. Think we spotted the Playboy Mansion and a few other celebrity houses. Also took Ele down Rodeo Drive but didnb't risk letting her into the shops!!! Next stop was the Getty Centre where we had a quick look around the art galeeries but most of it was fairly classical so a bit dull!!!

And now we find ourselves near to LAX waiting to fly to New York tomorrw for our last week - excited for our trip to Niagra and to see the Big Apple before flying home!!!