Santa Monica

Santa Monica is the nearest part of metropolitan Los Angeles to our Malibu campsite, and runs as a separate city. We visited it several times on the bus that was both frequent and cheap.

The city sets out to be an up an upmarket seaside resort and, in my view, succeeds. This is part of the wide beach, with its famous pier where Route 66 officially finished. It was 2448 miles long (Route 66, not the pier) and started in Chicago.

You can’t travel the length of the original Route 66 today because most of it has disappeared, replaced by freeways and other road improvements. In fact, the road designation was officially removed in 1985. However, it’s still part of US folklore, even to these old rockers posing outside the Route 66 visitor centre. Would they still be able to handle their kicks on Route 66, I ask myself?

The town centre gives a pleasing art deco appearance as can be seen from the pedestrianised main shopping street. 

As expected in a tourist town, there are numerous busking acts. These appeared to be of good quality, in keeping with the town’s image. The one featured below is an unusual one: dad+ two small sons combo producing some very acceptable music. 

Just to show the variety, here’s a small brass band consisting of youngsters that played sad Mexican style music, again very competently.

California is an eco state, so the LA area buses run on propane gas, as do some of the about-town cop vehicles. This one looks like a turbo charged futuristic golf cart. Perhaps the officer is allowed to use it on the golfcourse when he’s off duty.   

If you’re into snazzy design, look no further than this car park. Much more colourful than our usual UK drab concrete multi-storeys, but then maybe paying $15 a day you’d expect a designer place to park. Personally, I’ll use the free waste ground!

 Santa Monica had a good feel to it, nowhere near as brash and busy as most of LA. From here we head inland to the desert.