Friday, February 17, 2017
Last day in LA
To herald our exit from the west coast, the heaviest rains so far this season started this morning and by early evening are creating flooding everywhere. We did manage a shopping excursion to Gelson's to buy dinner materials for tonight. We also went out to Five Guys for lunch. After that it was movies for the afternoon, cards and finally a schnitzel dinner. And that's about the end of the California story for this visit.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
La Brea and Santa Monica
Today it was important to make ourselves scarce as Elizabeth and Gary expected three or four viewings by prospective buyers. So we decided, thanks to a tip from my friend Chris, to visit the LaBrea Tar Pits, only a short distance from the BH apartment. These pits have exposed the fossils of hundreds of animals that existed in the area as long as 40000 years ago. Any mastodon or sloth or sabre tooth tiger that wandered into these pits that have been spitting out asphalt since the ice age, became part of its history.
It was the early nineteen hundreds, when locals who knew of the bountiful oil deposits, because of the obvious surface oil ponds, began to dig out a bonanza of fossils from the pits here. This was the beginnings of a century of archeological activity here.
Today the work continues cataloging the thousands of artifacts housed in crates on the property. Methane gas continues to bubble to the surface of the asphalt pools that also have to be scooped up so they don't overflow. The smell of petroleum permeates the area.
From LaBrea, we drove to the Santa Monica pier, parked and had lunch at Del Frisco's Grille right on Ocean Blvd. After a great lunch, we walked out on the pier always teeming with tourists.
Following some brief shopping, we returned to BH. It was another quiet dinner at home and more fabulous California wine.
It was the early nineteen hundreds, when locals who knew of the bountiful oil deposits, because of the obvious surface oil ponds, began to dig out a bonanza of fossils from the pits here. This was the beginnings of a century of archeological activity here.
Today the work continues cataloging the thousands of artifacts housed in crates on the property. Methane gas continues to bubble to the surface of the asphalt pools that also have to be scooped up so they don't overflow. The smell of petroleum permeates the area.
From LaBrea, we drove to the Santa Monica pier, parked and had lunch at Del Frisco's Grille right on Ocean Blvd. After a great lunch, we walked out on the pier always teeming with tourists.
Following some brief shopping, we returned to BH. It was another quiet dinner at home and more fabulous California wine.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Beverly Hills
Another beautiful day on the West Coast! Today we started off with a trip to Elizabeth and Gary's new project. Located on Vestone Way in the heart of BelAir, the home they are presently working on is in a canyon just up the road from the BelAir Hotel. Despite its Canyon location the property is bright and airy with lots of lovely scenery.
Although it is still about two months from completion, it is certainly taking shape with it's spacious great room, 800 bottle wine cooler, back lit liquor cabinet and bright bedrooms.
After lunch in Westwood at the In-N-Out we returned to the apartment and then went for a walk in downtown Beverly Hills.
We walked past their 9/11 Memorial, a piece of twisted girder from the twin towers.
Our objective was to visit Wally's Wines and Fine Spirits. It had an impressive selection, including a refrigerated room where bottle prices started in the hundreds.
On the walk back to the apartment we passed a display window showing exotic doggie coats. Well, it is after all, Beverly Hills.
When Elizabeth and Gary returned from the work site, we drank some nice Chardonnays and finished the day with an Elizabeth-prepared salmon dinner. Delicious!!
Although it is still about two months from completion, it is certainly taking shape with it's spacious great room, 800 bottle wine cooler, back lit liquor cabinet and bright bedrooms.
After lunch in Westwood at the In-N-Out we returned to the apartment and then went for a walk in downtown Beverly Hills.
We walked past their 9/11 Memorial, a piece of twisted girder from the twin towers.
Our objective was to visit Wally's Wines and Fine Spirits. It had an impressive selection, including a refrigerated room where bottle prices started in the hundreds.
On the walk back to the apartment we passed a display window showing exotic doggie coats. Well, it is after all, Beverly Hills.
When Elizabeth and Gary returned from the work site, we drank some nice Chardonnays and finished the day with an Elizabeth-prepared salmon dinner. Delicious!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
On to LA
Today was a travel day, but we did manage to fit in a couple of highlights. First we visited with childhood friend Chris Harris just off Hwy91 at a Starbucks. It was interesting because we reconnected seamlessly.
Although the traffic was thick, we hit Beverly Hills by 4:00 and were reunited with Elizabeth and Gary. In a heart beat we were reminiscing and enjoying more California juice.
Although the traffic was thick, we hit Beverly Hills by 4:00 and were reunited with Elizabeth and Gary. In a heart beat we were reminiscing and enjoying more California juice.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Palm Springs
With the temperature soaring into the 80's today, it was a hot one and it looked like guaranteed pool time. First however we took a drive up in the hills above Palm Springs into the Las Palmas area to check out some of the classic homes with some history, like the home where Elvis and Pricilla honeymooned.
Then there was Liberace's former house with its music noted door.
Next was Leonardo da Caprio's present house in which he has apparently spent one night.
The area was full of beautiful homes with spectacular scenery.
For lunch we shopped at Bill's favourite Mexican grocery store Cardenas, full of, for us, exotic merchandise - everything from chillies to pinadas.
Lunch was delicious - carnitas- Mexican spiced pork tortillas. R&R with pool time followed. For our last dinner tonight Bill made a
Caesar and I whipped up a steak Diane with some fine red wine. It's been a great visit and we're sorry to have to move on down the road.
Then there was Liberace's former house with its music noted door.
Next was Leonardo da Caprio's present house in which he has apparently spent one night.
The area was full of beautiful homes with spectacular scenery.
For lunch we shopped at Bill's favourite Mexican grocery store Cardenas, full of, for us, exotic merchandise - everything from chillies to pinadas.
Lunch was delicious - carnitas- Mexican spiced pork tortillas. R&R with pool time followed. For our last dinner tonight Bill made a
Caesar and I whipped up a steak Diane with some fine red wine. It's been a great visit and we're sorry to have to move on down the road.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Desert Living
As our pace has slowed to a crawl, we are taking advantage of the beautiful desert winter. The community in which Bill and Brenda live is called Montage and it is connected to Mission Hills Country Club where we breakfasted this morning.
The views from the dining room are stunning.
The rest of the grounds aren't too shabby either.
The temperature hit the high 70's today so pool time was the order of the afternoon.
Since it's the Grammys tonight, we will have nibblies and perhaps additional liquid refreshment in front of the TV. Hope we didn't catch too much sun today.
The views from the dining room are stunning.
The rest of the grounds aren't too shabby either.
The temperature hit the high 70's today so pool time was the order of the afternoon.
Since it's the Grammys tonight, we will have nibblies and perhaps additional liquid refreshment in front of the TV. Hope we didn't catch too much sun today.
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