Thinking Rosie: The Ocean!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

The Ocean!

Wellllll, today was yummy! YAY! :)

We headed to the Farmer's Market area around 9:30am this morning. It was a BEA-U-Tiful day! But I think that's uncommon around these parts. :)

We were just a short walk from where we would be meeting our guide, so we headed out past CBS to the market. It's funny here, ALL the advertising is for TV shows. You kind of assume everyone is in the business and probably doesn't need to be reminded that there's a new show coming out this fall, but apparently that is not the case.

SO, we got to the Farmer's Market and the food began! Apparently the Farmer's Market was started in the 1930's, so it's been around quite some time. The structure is unchanged and most of the shops inside are STILL run by almost original owners (a few in their 70's)!

We started at Bob's donuts, from there it was on to olives, cheeses and breads. English toffee, fresh fruit, Brazilian meets and yucca tray, French Madelaine's (YUM), an Indian stop (I became a believer today), Chinese chicken salad (YUM -- going to be trying to replicate this one at home), and Japanese food. There were 7 of us on the tour, a couple from Chicago, and a mother, daughter and boyfriend from North Carolina. The tour was 3.5 hours long, so my ADD did kick in, but then they gave me more food, so I got over it. :)

Pretty wall of flowers that bordered the sidewalk on our walk to the Farmer's Market.

Beautiful restaurant that we ate our Madelaines in. It's hard to imagine restaurants and homes that don't have any consideration about weather. This is was one of 2 main outdoor seating areas. Considering you can barely find a place w/ outdoor seating in Iowa, it's certainly an interesting way to live.

A wall of mustard -- everything you can see in this picture is mustard. There was a shelf next to it that was also different types of mustard. Amazing.

Our tour guide -- she was very pretty -- this picture isn't doing her justice. But, this picture was really about the butcher holding up the rack of ribs behind her. He's been voted the best butcher -- some contest they do. But she mentioned that he has been on TV in numerous shows, so he has some nick name I can't remember.

Bob's donuts and the best hot chocalte I've ever had!

From there it was off to Venice Beach! What a place! There was NO lack of people watching. My sister (Melody) would have been content for many, many hours. We were always losing her when she was little because she would be intregued w/ someone.

We saw a celebrity there as well today (Dermot Mulroney - My Best Friends Wedding, Friends, New Girl), which was funny. I guess they probably get used to it -- being from Iowa they hardly seem real. :)

Venice was initially built to be like Venice, Italy. The built these canals thru it which are just beautiful. People live all along them, which I can't imagine. Just beautiful, unique homes and then all the people of the world trapesing around your backyard while you live... hmmmm... seemed a little odd, but they all seemed fine w/ it. :)

Canals

Venice beach is a crazy place, there were about three "Green Doctors" on the strip. I think basically, it would take all of 1 min to be diagnosed with something you needed marjauana for.

Street performers and crazy peeps everywhere in this area. There was an area where younger old people were dancing to rap music on roller skates -- with all their heart. Skateboarders, the gym Arnold Schwarzeneger got his start in (basically an outdoor gym), basketballers (White Men Can't Jump was filmed there). It was a very unique area.

And very beautiful.

Nick made me laugh until I cried tonight, but this wasn't one of the times. This just makes me smile because it's like his coffee picture -- he's always doing it. I think it's a pose that has something to do w/ football.