Southern California

Saturday, October 21st

Arieh here. We have arrived in Fiji. Actually, I am writing part of this in San Diego but you get the point. This picture is our last day in N.A. and the last day with our car! Note that this is the only time you will see Val carrying her own blue and bigger pack. It seems that is to be my job, "rightfully so" all of you will say.

We arrived in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday, October 11th after touring the Hearst Castle in San Simeon and driving the rest of the day down the coast. The castle really is something to see. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it took 15 years to build and a few of the concrete walls had to be torn down as the owner "changed his mind" about something or other. Not like moving a piece of drywall, eh? The castle is located on top of a mountain, about a 10 min. drive away from the coast. Huge piece of land, uncountable rooms, VERY large swimming pools and "stuff" from all over the world. Not a shred of coordination between one room to the other. Some of you would be very disappointed. For example, the dining room walls were covered in wood brought from some church in Europe including the little seats/vestibules that the priests used in their work. An adjacent room was covered in tapestries that had nothing to do with a church.

We were royally treated by Val's Aunt Syma and her children. We managed to take in a live Jay Leno show (featuring Sandra Bullock and Michael Caine--didn't you see me with my red hat and red CANADA shirt??) thanks to Edith and Josh followed by dinner in their Succah that night--a fantastic feast for a multitude (my boys will be so jealous of the food they missed). Naomi walked with us in Westwood Village and helped us reconnect to Val's family. We met Josh and Edith's children Hannah and Sammy for the first time and enjoyed seeing Amiad, Matty, (cousin Naomi's children) and Jacob once again. Unfortunately, we did not get to Las Vegas to see Leah and Jeff and children. Next time.

From L.A. we drove to Palm Springs to see my way older sister, Bette (pronounced Betty) Taback and spouse Gerry. What good hosts they are as well, although it was not a surprise. They live in an "Active Retirement Living" complex where one partner must be 55 or older. New homes, nice common community centre with pools, whirltub, tennis courts, bocce courts, etc. and lots of sun. For some reason, when the temperature was in the mid 20s C. (mid 70s F.), we were informed that this was coolish weather. Eitan and Avidan, you should write Aunty Bette and let her know the truth. Can't say I would like to live in Palm Springs year round but a visit to the desert is quite a big change--very quiet, a wide flat valley surrounded by treeless mountains and relatively dark at night (there is a city bylaw that restricts street lighting). On a previous trip we drove up to Joshua Tree National Park. That is very different place with lots of "Joshua Trees" and beautiful landscapes. It also gives you a great mountain top view of the valley below. In PS it is hard to walk around your neighbourhood unlike others cities I have lived in--Vancouver, Jerusalem, Toronto. Outside of my sister's community are wide long roads built for drivers and not walkers. One drives to any location outside of one's own community. There is a lively and walkable downtown in PS.

(Val here) That being said, I had lovely walks on a path around the perimeter of the complex. Saw hummingbirds and a few roadrunners.

After lovely times with Bette and Gerry - talking, eating, talking - we left for San Diego. My sister Joy greeted us. We went with her to some great restaurants and to a wonderful beach in La Jolla which was covered with seals lying in the sun - young seals, old seals, spotted seals, mottled seals. It was quite something to see. Expecially easy to photograph inasmuch as only an expert with excellent equipment can get a good picture of a seal in water or on a rock far away. The pelicans and cormorants continue to fascinate me.

Did some car paper work in San Diego and my sister is now owner of a wonderful new/used car that I think she will enjoy for some time! The mild weather will be so much nicer to our vehicle I give it a good 7 years more life, assuming loving kindness and good luck!

Drove to Los Angeles on Thursday (Oct. 19) spent some time with my cousin Joan and her husband Murray who kindly served us a lovely dinner and took us to Los Angeles airport to fly to Fiji.