We’ve arrived! After a very easy 10 hour flight from Auckland to LA (the highlight being when we found a packet of unopened chips shortly before boarding, score!) we got in early and Andrew’s uncle Eric collected us from the airport. We drove back to the house and I met the rest of the family who are all some of the loveliest people in the world. And so welcoming. We went out for dinner at one of their favourite restaurants, Hugo’s, and we managed to stay awake until bedtime that night despite having only had 2 hours sleep.

On Sunday we went to check out Malibu and Santa Monica. We even drove past Cher’s house. It was vast.

The Malibu pier

Malibu was so picturesque. We walked out onto the pier and took in the fresh sea air.

Andrew and his uncle Eric on the Malibu pier

Typical tourist photo

After Malibu we drove onto Santa Monica. We started to watch a street performance but it was dragging on a bit so we took a stroll towards the pier.

The sun doesn’t set until about 7:50pm here so it was still delightfully sunny.

Santa Monica beach

As far as piers go, Malibu’s and Santa Monica’s couldn’t be more different. Santa Monica’s was far more commercial and packed with families, amusement rides and fast food.

Still pretty though.

We then drove to a Mexican restaurant for dinner called El Cholo. It’s been around since the 1920s and with its delicious food and drinks it was easy to see why.

Andrew’s margarita.

They made our guacamole at the table. Now that’s fresh!

Delicious

Not pretty, but SO GOOD

Just looking at these photos is making me salivate. I had chicken chimichangas:

Chimichangas with rice, guac and refried beans

Andrew had ‘A taste of history’, which included a cheese enchilada, rolled beef taco, chile relleno, green corn tamal, spanish rice and refried beans:

So. Good.

Eric had blue corn chicken enchiladas, which were also amazing. Afterwards we were all sufficiently stuffed.

Having an amazing time so far! What’s news with you?