Day Three

We hired a convertible Beetle and took a drive out to Santa Monica to check out Muscle Beach and Venice Beach.
It wasn't just a beach jolly though, we heard Gwyneth Paltrow, who was singing at the Oscars ceremony, had just checked into posh 5star hotel Shutters On The Beach.

However, after a few hours we realised Gwynnie was nowhere to be seen.

We did, of course, spend some well deserved time rubber necking sexy, buff men, working out topless on Muscle beach. It's impossible not to look. Come on.

men pumping iron in the sunshine

We walked the entire stretch of the beach (took over two hours) while gawping like tourists at all the different people - LA is full of eccentrics and weirdos. 

There was homeless people everywhere, looking ultra chilled out in the sunshine. Smoking weed and drinking 'liquor' out of brown paper.bags,

Travellers trying to sell anything and everything. Joss sticks, paintings, palm readings, wood carvings and so on.

One budding entrepreneur caught my attention straight away. A young punk who had a board around his neck with “Kick my butt for $1” written on it.

Never before had I contemplated hurting someone for my own pleasure, let alone pay for the privilege.
But I have to admitt, I was very tempted.
Who wouldn’t pay a mere 50p to boot someone in the ass? For a laugh?
I refrained though, in the light of day, it seemed a tad harsh.

walking our friends dog Killer.