A day in LA

With the effects of jet lag this morning I was awake early, but managed to stay in bed till around 6.30 when I got up and dressed for breakfast, the best thing about breakfast was the tea, and that was only because I took my own tea bag. I decided that I would go over to Union Station to get my bearings and pick up my train tickets, on the way over I went through El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Park.

 This was the site of the first houses and street in LA when it was a village I returned here for Mexican brunch of Shredded Beef, Scrambled eggs and rice and beans in what the sign says is the oldest brick built building in LA.

Before that having done some train watching in the sun, I decided on a little trip there and back again to San Fernando on the Antelope Valley Line of Metrolink.  Then after my Mexican Brunch, I took a trip to Riverside Downtown out on 91 Line and back on the Riverside Line. It was very hot by now around 5pm so I made my way back to the hotel via El Pueblo, picking up a Caramel Churrto and a banana and orange smoothie. After a bit of a relax around 7pm I took a walk to Philippe, the Home of the French dip sandwich as seen on Man V Food, I had a beef double dipped sandwich. The restaurant is one of the oldest in Southern California opened in 1908 and very popular, even if it does have sawdust on the floor. After eating my fill I waddled back to the hotel and  fell asleep watching TV

West Coast Trip 2012

This years trip sees me chasing trains and eating my way up and down the West Coast of the USA. Ive been here before LA with the Band a few years ago and a day trip to Seattle a few years ago.
This trip see me fly into LA then the train up to seattle, few days there, fly down to San Francisico for a few days, then a slow drive down the pacific coast highway ending up in LA for a few days before I return. May throw in a day trip to Canada and Mexico while here.
First Stop was the parents house to leave my car ad for Hazel to pick me up to take me to Heathrow. Stayed at the Novotel on M4 Junc 4. Had Onion Soup and fillet steak there for tea. and then an early night.
Monday morning started with breakfast in the hotel and then on to the Heathrow Hoppa Bus H51 to Terminal 5, After droping my bags it was time to find the 'pod' to have a ride in

Then it was through security and on the shuttle train to find my gate C52 one of the furtest away from the terminal my Plane  G-STBB a 777-300ER was only delivered new in 2011

We had good wind (not produced my myself) and we arrived an hour early, which meant I could get on the FlyAway shuttle to Union Station the same time as we were due to land. The Hotel the Metro Plaza is a short walk from the Station, comfortable and basic, but convenient for the train I will be taking. After a nap it was around the corner to The South Street Smokehouse where I had a sampler platter.

Was very good got my fingers all sticky and only got a little bit down me. Now its time to catch up with some sleep ready for a lazy day tomorrow.