anniebrooks: Day 7 Santa Monica

LA Farmers' Market

We drove up to Hollywood after breakfast, which is a bit like going to London and visiting Piccadilly Circus – i.e. it sort of has to be done but is slightly disappointing. However, Sissy Spacek was being honoured at some sort of publicity thing, so seeing her was cool (the kids had never heard of her which made T and I feel very old). The Walk of Fame and the Chinese Film Theatre were extraordinarily busy and we soon got into the car and drove through West Hollywood and stopped at the Farmers Market which is certainly the biggest foodcourt/indoor market I have ever seen and had a great mix of foods from all cultures (including my favourite: frozen yoghurt – this world would be a sorrier place without it).

From there we went to Rodeo Drive where The Bees looked alarmingly at home. Driving up through Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Strip past Chateau Marmont and up to Laurel Canyon was made slightly more dramatic by Tim being rear-ended (“I AM SO SORRY MAN” – That’s ok, the damage is to your car, not ours..). We then drove up around Mulholland Drive where the view over the San Fernando Valley was breathtaking. Plenty of incredibly amazing houses up there too.

Once again, a few interesting crazy people to charm us with their weirdness (see below).... Success with our daily pic though, as we asked a Santa Monica Ambassador (who you ask if you are lost or need to know where Barnes and Noble is) who was so delighted to be helpful that he fist-bumped T. Unfortunately his hat was in the way of the flash, so it’s not the greatest photo in the world, but we look pretty much the same as have done all along.

This is a typical Brooks conversation over dinner:

“blah blah blah”

“Pardon?”

“blah blah blah”

“That’s an interesting opinion, but you are wrong”

“What are they saying?”

“blah blah blah”

“I don’t think so. You’re a nutter”

“I can’t hear a word you are saying. Speak up”

ETC

To that end, I have decided to bring a 5^th person on holiday with us in future who can act as interpreter and mediator. Needs to have excellent hearing, good debating skills, Phd’s in Philosophy, Maths, English and Music, plus huge interest in shopping and fashion. Would suit: High Court Judge. Apply to brooksfamilyneed help@hotmail.com Other family members need not apply – I know what you are all like when you join in.