It Never Rains in California...

Last Thursday we flew from Denver to Los Angeles to see our daughter. Our flight was a little late getting in, and it was raining when Katie picked us up at the airport. Since she lives in a studio apartment, we arranged for a place to stay through airbnb.com. It is an interesting website where you can find anything from a tee pee to a full house to rent. We located a one bedroom apartment behind a home in an area very close to where Katie lives. It was nice to have a kitchen where we could make a meal if we chose, and to have hot tea every morning. Plus we didn't have to listen to anyone above, below or next door to us. The one weird thing is that the bathroom was off the bedroom and in lieu of a door it had beads. Jim immediately dubbed it the beaded throne.

beaded throne

On Friday we went to the Getty Center, where it rained most of the day. It never rains in California? Girl, don't they warn ya...it pours, man it pours. The architecture at the Getty is really cool, and I imagine the gardens are amazing as well when not viewed from the shelter of an umbrella. Fortunately there are many museums to go into, so we didn't get too wet.

view from Getty Center

Getty Center

Saturday was shaping up to be a nice weather day, so we decided to drive to San Pedro to see the Point Fermin Lighthouse. It was built in 1874 and is a beautiful structure. We signed up for the 2:00 tour, and wandered around taking photos to pass the time. And watched the fog roll in. By the time we climbed to the top of the lighthouse you couldn't see squat. "I have never seen it like this!", exclaimed our tour guide. "Normally you can see all the way to Catalina Island, and there are usually a few whales down below." Bummer. We ate a late lunch at a biker bar in town, and that made for interesting people watching. When we arrived back in LA the weather was still beautiful there.

Point Fermin Lighthouse

Walker's Cafe

Sunday was also a nice day in LA. We set off to Griffith Park to see the observatory and take pictures of the infamous Hollywood sign. From there we drove to Angeles National Forest to see the San Gabriel Mountains. It was like driving in Colorado, with a two lane winding road and sheer drop offs. We stopped at the only restaurant in the park for another late lunch, and when we came out it had begun to sleet. "I've never seen it like this!", exclaimed a native. Of course you haven't, I thought to myself. We decided to go back to LA and the weather conditions worsened. The sleet turned to snow, which began to build up on the road. Great - slippery, snow covered two lane winding road with sheer drop offs. We slowly inched our way back to LA which was - you guessed it - sunny and dry.

observatory

Hollywood sign

San Gabriel Mountains

sunset in Los Angeles

Monday Katie came over for a last breakfast with us, and we waited for our taxi to take us to the airport. Katie did not have enough time to take us there and get to work on time. The driver called and said he was going to be late. "I have never seen the traffic like this!", he exclaimed. Of course you haven't, we all thought to ourselves. Nevertheless we made it to the airport in plenty of time, and arrived home safe and sound. To temperatures in the 60's. "I've never seen it like this!", I exclaimed.