I arrived quite early in LA at 5:30 am. I waited a bit until I picked up my rental car. The pick up was fast and easy, I could select every car from the Compact class. I selected a red Hyundai. After I went to a supermarket the tyre pressure warning light was on, so I had to drive back. I was lucky and got an upgrade because of these inconvenience.
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| My car for the week, a Chevrolet Cruz |
First stop of the day was Santa Monica Pier.
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| Breakfast time :D |
It is definitely a must see in LA, all the stores and attractions on the pier. If you looking from the pier to land on the left side is Santa Monica Beach and on the right Venice Beach.
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| They really preparing the beach to be even in the morning... |
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| Place to work out at Venice Beach |
In Santa Monica is also the Third Street Promenade, with a lot of stores and cafes.
I decided I want to leave LA right away to head North on the Highway one. On the way I passed Malibu and went to all the places which were recommended to me (I have not pics from all of them :/).
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| Duke's Malibu |
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| Lunch salad at Paradise Cove Beach |
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| Queueing for a parking spot... |
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| ... to walk up the hill at Point Dume State Beach |
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| It was worth it! |
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| One of the famous restaurants, Neptune's Net (from the first Fast and Furious) |
Next major stop along Highway one was Santa Barbara. It is a really busy and nice city :)
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| Guess what, they have also a pier ;) |
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| Lots of beautiful buildings |
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| Botanical garden |
Yeah that is the only picture... When I arrived I liked the road some much, so I decided to keep driving around (Highway 192 is quite nice and is close to Santa Barbara) ;D After a while I got back in Highway one and drove to Pismo Beach to finish my first day. I booked a motel it was my first private room for quite a while ;) Next morning I slept long until 10 :D but I had to get up to continue my trip. Because I arrived in Pismo Beach by night I had to go first to the Beach and Guess what? Exactly there is again a pier ;)
Margo Dodd Park and Edlwayen Ocean Park a close by, it is an awesome stop.
Next city I went was San Luis Obsipo.
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| The Bubblegum Avenue, it is all Bubblegum ;P |
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| Mission San Luis Obsipo de Tolosa |
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| I accidentally found this church, Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church :D |
Wheater got worse and worse ....
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| Only the information center... |
Let's continue... ;)
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| Pfeiffer State Beach area |
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| Sadly the Beach access was closed... |
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| Beach and the Mcway Falls |
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| I was really foggy... |
I stopped for the night at Monterey. Motel again :D
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| Life is perfect ;) TV, Beer and Pizza :D |
Next morning again sleeping quite long and then start my last part of the trip to San Francisco. I first wanted to drive to Pebble Beach Links Golf Course, but only to enter the area you have to pay $10, so I continued.
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| Bixby Creek Bridge |
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| Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo |
Next break for lunch was Santa Cruz.
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| Rollercoaster Park next to the beach |
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| The whole park |
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| Seals |
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| I Guess you already know, there is also a pier ;) |
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| Weather was OK... |
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| Last stop before I went to San Francisco, Natural Bridges State Beach |
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| First think to do in San Francisco, driving over the Golden Gate Bridge :D |
I made it safe to San Francisco :P The weather forecast wasn't good, the prices for the hostel and parking the car were expensive, so I decided to only stay two nights in San Francisco. The hostel was located in Chinatown. I met two nice Americans and we spoke literally until the night. Next day the challenge was to see as much as possible in San Francisco. The other day I got the news a friend and former colleague is in Santa Rose, which is close by.
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| Ferry Building |
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Same place over 16 years later, getting some memories :D
Just kidding can't remember ;P |
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| Coit Tower |
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| Got for change at the Coit Tower, I had no idea they even exist |
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| Nice view from the Coit Tower |
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| Downtown |
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| San Francisco ;) |
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| Golden Gate Bridge |
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| Alcatraz |
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| Pier 39 |
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| Shops and Food everywhere |
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| Fisherman's Wharf |
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| Clam Chowder Soup |
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| Lazy seals ;) |
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| Lombard Street |
Next day I drove on my own :D
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| Cable car :D |
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| Cable car Museum |
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| Union Square |
I managed to meet Seb :D, so spontaneously! Was great thanks!
We were together in the
This day was a major driving day. I wanted to see some thing located close to San Francisco and make my way back south.
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| Painted Ladies |
Erik my friend from California gave me the good advice to park at 155 Portola Drive and walk down the road a bit, it is the best view over the city. I had no luck with the weather, but it was still awesome.
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| Rainbow at Fort Funston |
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| Fort Fubston view |
After the places on the West coast I got back to the cities and drove due Atherton, Palo Alto, Cupertino and Silicon Valley. It was a must have for my self :D Sadly is was to flashed to take pictures...
From there I took probably one of the best road to drive, thanks again to Erik. They are all located around Alice's restaurant. From the video below the biggest part not at the coast was there. It was so fun to drive, really hard not to speed to much ;)
My actually plan was to stop a view times but the weather was so bad that I decided only to drive and skip the stops. This sadly includes Hearst Castle, too. I drove for hour I had so much fun :D In the end I was a bit low of fuel ... But I won't get gas for $6 per Gallon... So I bought it later for $4 :D I had to get a bit. My overnight stop was this time Santa Maria. My last day to LA was mainly driving, because I almost saw the interesting things already and I had to much fun. I really missed driving around a bit :D
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| Toilet break on both ways ;) |
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| Weather changed finally to get better ;) |
In LA I stayed in a hostel at the Walk of fame.
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| View from the Window |
Next day was my the only day to explore LA.
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| Grauman's chinese theatre |
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| Walk of Fame, Same Star over 16 years in between ;) |
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| Docweiler Beach close to the Airport |
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| Huntington beach |
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| Pier view ;) |
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| Promenade |
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| Cha for tea, eat the chicken dumplings (tip from Erik) |
Because I was to lazy to find a cheap parking spot in downtown, if this even exist, I did sightseeing by car and took my pics out of it ;D
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| Walt Disney Concert Hall |
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| LA City Hall |
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| Staples Center |
Last stop an my list was the Griffith observatory. You have a stunning view over LA and can see the Hollywood Sign, must do!!!
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| Observatory and Downtown |
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| I guess I have nothing to explain ;) |
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| View from the observatory |
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| I think it is cool :) |
Dinner I went to the last recommendation form Erik, Kyochon chicken center. The Garlic and Spicy chicken wings are amazing! Only the spicy ones are really spicy :D
The week in California is already over! It was an different experience, because I was a lot of driving on my own, but I really liked it. To give you a feeling how amazing the driving was ;)
But there is no time to be sad, because next stop is Atlanta! I'm looking forward for weeks with my Family.
Cheers Steffen
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