When you are in Santa Monica there is nothing better than spending a day on Santa Monica Pier. The characters, the entertainers, the amusements, the bars, the restaurants, and of course the weather.
Here is Day 16 of our USA Road Trip
Day 16
Today we started in – Santa Monica
We finished in – Santa Monica
Miles travelled today – 4 (walking)
Miles so far this trip – 1488
Tonight we are staying at – Doubletree Hilton Santa Monica
We promised Max fun in the hotel pool, so this was our first mission. Once he got it out of his system, off we went 🙂
We chose a different walk from our hotel today, and ended up entering Santa Monica Pier from the lower level, near the beach and where we rented the bikes from yesterday. The same place that gave us back ache yesterday and bum ache today!
Today, we are spending a day on Santa Monica Pier! I would have been upper another trip to Venice, but Max wasn’t, so a day on Santa Monica pier it was!
It is a sunny Sunday, so the pier is busy. Families and of course lots of children.
A day on Santa Monica Pier is a busy one!
Arcades packed. Bars packed. Restaurants packed. It was going to be a day of negotiating crowds, queues and people.
But of course the crowds brought the entertainers. Guitarists and singers dominate the sideshows while sellers’ carts sit precisely on their numbered stars the powers that be have allocated them for their pitch for the day.
We make our way to the end of the pier, and sit on the steps facing out to sea. An electric guitar and a drummer are thrashing out what turns out to be their last song. They gave their slot to a solo gitarist.
I write #JayBlane down on my notes. It would later prove to be a waste of ink, as I fail to find him on any social media platform.
Making the most of now as we spend a day on Santa Monica Pier
Some moments you just have to cherish. Sitting there, the sun beating down, the acoustic guitar playing its mellow sounds, wafting in with the sea air. All this in spite of the strange man shouting unrecognisable words, soon joined by the unfortunate man we saw eating out of the bins yesterday.
We headed up to Maria Sol for drinks and get (rather easily it has to be said) cajoled into buying an overpriced photograph from a table to table photographer. The sun, the beer, and the circumstance no doubt influencing us!
Bubba Gump is the restaurant of choice for tea.
Between now and reaching our hotel we encounter people from all walks of life.
Australian families on their travels. Locals who probably visit weekly, if not more frequent. Street performers hoping for their next meal. Singers. Traders.
Each with their own Santa Monica Importance.
Our 4am alarm call awaits tomorrow, so an early bedtime is needed. 9pm to be precise.
Good night Santa Monica….until next time
See Full Itinerary of our trip here