a real honeymoon!

Next up: Malibu and LA!  Our timing was impeccable; we pulled into the Malibu RVPark just in time to photograph the reflection of the sunset in our aluminum framed porthole.

MM's silver bullet

By the way, YES, this was the home for Matthew McConaughey’s custom airstream–parked right above ours!  Let me tell you, by this time we were thoroughly enjoying sunny and clear blue skies with 70+ degree temperatures.  It felt like a real honeymoon.   Staying in Malibu also contributed to that feeling.  Fresh seafood, rubbing elbows with famous people’s RVs, oh, and our very own episode of COPS unfolding right next to us at the park!  That’s right, if you have not read all of Greg’s play-by-play of the events on twitter, I will give you the cliff’s notes version:

Helicopters with searchlights, police officers lurking around our airstream and undercover cop cars staked out around the giant vintage trailer next door prompted Greg to march on outside and ask what was going on.  “Are we safe?” he asked the cop.  “Yes, the people we are looking for are not dangerous, they are just idiots.  Return to your evening and have a cocktail.”  Apparently, the owners of the RV right next to us were alleged identity thieves, and the police were cracking down on the Bonnie of the duo, as the Clyde had just been apprehended elsewhere.  I mean, all evening the cops ripped apart their Winnebago while we chatted with the neighbors (all outside of course drinking cans of Bud).  So much for the my evening of Gossip Girl and break and bakes.

horray for hollywood

The following morning brought the promise of LA. We cruised all around– I wanted to see it all:  Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Sunset Strip, the Hollywood sign, a brief excursion up through the fantastic residences in the Hollywood Hills and finally Melrose.  Greg was easily distracted by a car wash sign and quickly pulled in for an LA Disco Carwash.  It made our favorite Philadelphia car wash look like a single boy standing roadside with a hose and some dish soap.  Greg has never had a more thorough car cleaning; he was ecstatic.  So, we celebrated by buying boots on Melrose.  Mine are fancy and Greg’s are Frye!  I was very excited!

Pink's hot dogs for lunch

I am still looking for new cowboy boots, however.  While on Melrose, we met up for cocktails and dinner with yet another one of Greg’s lovely friends, Sydney, and his girlfriend Trish. We had such a fun evening, and I was so pleased to feel comfortable in a city that had always seemed intimidating. On to Vegas!

Impromptu Melrose haircut

Before I express my disappointment over my lack of Vegas photographs I will explain that I anticipated seeing what I later learned was ‘old Vegas’ and that ‘new Vegas’ was a far cry from the example of the 1970’s Circus Circus that I DID photograph.  Despite the awful blisters I endured from speed walking 3 miles in my fancy shoes, the rest of our experience was amazing.  We splurged on a chef’s tasting at Shibuya paired with a mellow bottle of sake and finished with a trio of sweets– a berry parfait, mochi and cocoa lychee bites.  Three days later, we are still talking about the yellowtail and the wagyu skirt steak.

Vegas by day

After securing a pair of cocktails, Greg and I made our way to our seats in the MGM Grand theater and prepared for the wonders of the Cirque Du Soleil show KÀ.  Speakers were built into each seat, explosive fiery puffs erupted from the pit that would become the stage and ushers garnished in full face paint and beyond thunderdome-like regalia chided patrons from photographing the set, “NO fireflies, please!”.  The show itself was indescribable.  The stage was rigged with super quiet hydraulics and basically maneuvered up, down, backwards and forwards and tilted vertically, horizontally and every way imaginable.  Creatures flew through the air above us on zip lines and bungees, repelling down the sets flanking the audience.  I kept glancing over at Greg with my jaw dropped.  It was unbelievable.  Eloquently telling the age-old story of war and love using only dance, music and comic relief, no verbal language was spoken.  I was mesmerized.  Now I get all the hype!  Had we stayed 2 more days, we would have also seen O, Mystère, and Love.

RHUM-tastic!

Finishing the evening with live blues at B. B. King’s and spectacular beverages at the slick RHUM bar, we retired to our mobile home without gambling one red cent.

Although I missed out on evening photographs, I was delighted by ‘morning after’ Vegas.  I snapped a few Circus Circus shots while I embarked on a hunt for coffee.

A happy place

Krispy Kreme provided our initial caffeine and sugar rush for the long drive to Phoenix.  Stay tuned; there are just a few more stops and posts until we are home!