CALIFORNIAN COUSINS

Before leaving Oz for USA, we made arrangements to meet our cousins who live in California. We haven't seen them in 41 years. Our SIL dropped us at the Hollywood/Highland Metro station and after we struggled to work out the ticket machine we were on our way to Union Station to catch the Amtrac train to San Diego.  It was a scenic two hour ride along the Pacific Coastline.

 We waited outside San Diego Station for Bill's cousin Gigi and husband Fredy to pick us up.

 They have a lovely neat house and garden on a hill overlooking the city. They have been in the same house since they migrated from Switzerland 45 years ago. We had lots of catching up to do and we talked well into the night.

 The next morning Bill was overjoyed to have a traditional Swiss breakfast. The two cousins laughed and joked with one another just like they did as children in Switzerland.

 After breakfast Fredy and Gigi drove us around San Diego on a sightseeing tour. We liked it very much and reminded us of Brisbane. We drove to the top of a hill which overlooked the city.

 There was a controversial war memorial there too. A citizen complained because of the Christian cross being erected on government land. After years of hassling the problem was solved by the government selling the land to a private land holder. The wall around the cross has photos of the fallen soldiers engraved into the stone, it was very impressive.

 Then we drove down to the beachside suburbs. It was a lovely area with great views. The seals and ......

 people share the many little beaches scattered along the coastline.

 All too soon it was time to board the train back to.......

 Los Angeles covered in its smoggy blanket, which they call the "June Gloom"

While we were waiting for Bernie to pick us up at the Hollywood/Highland Station on Hollywood Blvd, we......

 bumped into Marilyn and......

Michael. (Funny, I thought they were both dead.)