At the drive in

We picked up the keys to the car from the hotel valet and took our last drive. We pulled into a diner up the road called Mels drive in for breakfast. I had egg, cheese and pastrami breakfast sliders, which besides the heart attack was pretty good.

We then drove up to the hills district to take the scenic drive along Mulholand drive. It had some pretty good views and some serious drop offs at the vista points.

After cruising around the windy streets, we dropped the car off out near the airport. It was all very efficient, with us just rolling up to this driveway, a guy walks around the car to check we havent dinged it then hands us a receipt. Was a production line.

A guy there called us a cab and we took it to Venice beach, although it wasn't the best day to be at the beach, I liked it there. Its a bit away from the hollywood side of things and there's always something going on. We checked out the skateboard park then went and got some lunch at the first place we could get a seat.

After lunch and a couple of vinos we walked down to the next beach along the bikepath/walkway to Santa Monica. There were lots of apartments there so I guess people there really do live beside the ocean and leave the fire behind. As far as swimming out past the breakers, the water temp here is freaking freezing, I guess that's why they want to watch the world die.

We walked out onto the pier, but nothing much was going on besides the usual carney crap so we went and had a beer at Big Dean's cafe.

Missed the bus so we caught a cab back, we had this crazy Iranian cabbie who is apparently going to appear in a movie coming up called Argo as an extra, I think as an Iranian cop, but who knows.

We went down to Santa Monica Blvd for dinner, which we discovered was the gay strip of west hollywood. I thought it would be hilarious to order the coq au vin while there and have to say it was pretty delicious.