AmazingGreis

California, oh how I miss thee…

I went…
I saw…
I marched…
And then I had to leave!

We, I traveled with Magda, arrived in the Golden State on Wednesday afternoon.  Our first night was spent around Mariah‘s kitchen table chatting and eating homemade salsa and chili and making new friends (friends who bring you cupcakes ROCK!).  It was the perfect way to spend the night…low key and very relaxed.

We woke up early on Thursday and headed to the house of mouse, Disneyland.  It was the perfect day for a Disney outing.  The weather was cool, it was partly cloudy and there was a slight chance of “rain”.  We were hoping the “rain” would keep the crowds away.

The crowds were NEVER a problem.  The longest we waited in any line was 25 minutes (for the Toy Story ride).  Our personal Disney Tour Guide and frequent Disneyland patron, Kathy, was pretty impressed with how short the lines were.  We were able to ride all the rides and do both parks in one day.  We were done by 7 and then spent an hour or so strolling through Downtown Disney as we waited for Firework time.  It was a pretty magical, yet tiring, day.

Disneyland totally wore us out.  We decided we’d use Friday as a sleep in day.  And sleep in we did.  Around noon we finally decided to head out and Mariah & Chris drove us to Venice Beach.  We walked along the Promenade and window shopped at the beach side stores and booths.  The people watching was fantastic, the pushy medical “doctors” were not.  After our leisurely stroll Mariah & Chris took us to In-N-Out Burger so that we could be properly initiated into the California culture.  It was HEAVEN!!

Friday night took us to Marina Del Rey where we met up with 4 amazing women, and 2 very adorable kids, for dinner over looking the water.  The beer mugs were HUGE and the food was great, but the time spent with friends was priceless!  Thanks for including us in your dinner plans ladies!!

Saturday was the BIG walk.  We Marched for Maddie.

The walk was such an amazing experience.  To be with the Spohr’s and so many of their family and friends…the love for Maddie was radiating from deep within.  I wasn’t sure how my back was going to do for a 3 mile walk.  The pain was unbearable a few times.  I would stop take a break and then push on again.  I did it for me, I did it for Maddie, I did it for all the other babies!!

Saturday night was filled with friends, pizza, guitar solos and lots of baby lovin’!

Thank you Mike, Heather, Annabel & Rigby for inviting me to your home and for being such awesome hosts.

Sunday was my day to explore.  I couldn’t leave California without seeing Hollywood, so I drove to Grauman’s Chinese Theater and hopped on a double decker tour bus.

The bus drove all around Hollywood and Beverly Hills.  I could get on/off at any of the stops.  I loved seeing Rodeo Drive;

and the Farmers Market/Grove.

I enjoyed my first Pinkberry;

and was giddy when I finally saw the Hollywood sign!!

Monday morning we woke up bright and early, headed to LAX and hopped on our plane headed to Texas.

I was bummed to be leaving the awesomeness of California.  My trip was amazing and fun.  The weather never rose above 70, there were no earthquakes, no rain and for 5 glorious days I had no allergies (no worries, they were back the second I stepped off the plane in Houston).  If the gas prices and the cost of living weren’t so high I would totally move there.

Thank you to everyone that made my visit in the Golden State so awesome.  I met so many wonderful people.  People that I now consider friends.  Thank you to Mariah & Chris for opening up their home & guest house to us.  Without your hospitality and kindness the trip may not have been possible.

I can’t wait to go back!!!

**to see all of my California pictures check out my FLICKR page**

Posted in: Friends, Real Life, Vacation

Tags: bloggy friends, California, Friends, March for Maddie, Vacation

This entry was posted on Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 10:33 am and is filed under Friends, Real Life, Vacation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.