Some more Santa Monica

It feels funny to have so much time in one destination.  This is the only place we have four nights on the whole trip, so we have had more time to really dig our teeth in to this place.

Today we spent the WHOLE day on the boardwalk in Venice Beach shopping.  Literally, from about 11:30am till about 6pm, when we dragged our tired butts back to the hostel.  Now, most of you know I love shopping, but even this was a bit much for me!!!!  And I really wasn't shopping for me, I was just along for the ride.  The girls had to explore every nook and cranny on the entire beach!  They loved it......and their purchases reflected that!  Beyond the funky, inexpensive shopping, the  musicians and street performers kept us busy with their antics.  They say this is the Coney Island of the West. There were definitely some interesting characters all right!  It was quite overcast today, but the temperature was just right--not too hot or too cold, with a nice breeze blowing, so the walk was pleasant.  We found a great little cafe for lunch where the food was just delicious.

Oh, to be young and "hot" again.....(as opposed to old and "hot")

It is funny to walk with these girls and watch the boys eyeing them up and down.  They attract quite a bit of attention without doing anything, and they love it.  There was this pair of boys, one of them QUITE cute, that they saw in the morning and then later that day and the boys rode by on bicycles, turned around and rode by again, and turned around and rode by again.  They said "hi" to the girls and the flirtation was on!  I immediately stepped back a couple feet to let them have their fun, but they didn't even notice or seem embarrassed by me.  They couldn't figure out why after three passes, the boys didn't come back, but I think the boys figured out they were with 'ole mom and therefore their prospects weren't too good.  That never seemed to occur to the girls.  However, I did have to fend off some dirty old man older than me who, not knowing I was with the girls since I was a few feet behind them, called out to them, "I just want to know how you got so pretty, from your mom or your dad, that's all I want to know?"  So, of course I yelled out, "her mom!"

So from a teenager perspective, today was a good day.  It's funny, LA has so many neat things to see and do, but to a teenager, all that is really interesting are the funky, cheap souvenier shops and the boys.  If they get plenty of that, then they like the beach. I remember those days.  I remember those boys, to this day.  I remember the songs that were playing then.  The long, lazy summer beach days when the excitement of discovery and adventure had nothing to do with beautiful scenery, but with how many cute guys we would meet and the wild adventures we would have with them.  Oh, and there were some wild adventures, right Gayle????  Oh, the memories..............

"Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end, we'd sing and dance, forever and a day.  We'd live the life we choose, we'd fight and never lose, cause we were young, and sure to have our way....."

Love,

Beth