A flight from Arizona yesterday evening took me over the deserts of the South-West, past the valley of wind turbines, and dropped me off at Los Angeles. It is a quick trip and after the sorting of a rental car and GPS, I ended up in Anaheim right next to Disney. Close enough that their nightly fireworks were incredibly loud.

The next day we traveled down the Pacific Highway - a name familiar to Australians - and ended up at the beach at Oceanview. Like coastal Sydney, the southern Californian coast is blessed with wonderfully temperate weather and great surf. The next hours were spent body surfing, sunning, talking before heading off to eat tacos, burritos and quaff down Mexican beer. Not bad.
Cam Riley: South Sea Republic. Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic.

Comments
  • Phil . # . 1/1
    Cam, I didn't take up residency there, but I was in the States with work for 2 occasions - 1983 and 1988.

    The first in '83, LA was preparing for the '84 Olympics - LAX in particular was in turmoil, with a temporary inflatable terminal building while extensions happened. Rented a small condo at Marina Del Rey for that stay.

    2nd stay in '88 (hitched by then) we stayed at Manhattan Beach. Both very nice communities.

    Air quality often left a lot to be desired. But I found the people friendly and polite - 'specially to Aussies. There was no crime in those areas (though I did get off the Harbour Freeway at the wrong spot once and got worried about the ghetto neighbourhood I ended up in).

    But I have very positive memories of the people and place.
    • cam . # .
      Phil, Yeh I really like America, have been here nearly ten years now. I am pretty poorly travelled on the west coast of the US though. So I am enjoying being over this side of the country so I can have a good look around.
      'Sworn to no party, and of no sect am I.' Frederick Vosper's republican motto.