Santa Monica - By the sea

For my final full day of my trip I stuck in the Santa Monica area. My first plan for the day was to visit the Santa Monica Museum of Art (of course) which is a couple of miles north of the centre at an old station. However, it was closed for stock taking, so I had to head back.

Instead, I headed out to sea. I went first to the Santa Monica Pier. Technically there are two piers - a long pier and a "pleasure pier" next to it. Apparently they got into a state of disrepair 30 years back and were almost demolished, but the locals threw out the local government who were proposing it and saved it.

I then walked along the coast to Venice. Venice is more of a counter-culture resort compared to the "glamour" of Santa Monica, with small stalls selling ethnic crafts and people trying to legalise drugs! It also has the famous "Muscle Beach" (which apparently was originally by the pier in Santa Monica) and a big skate part in the middle of the beach. Here there were a variety of men having a go (and they were all male) from small boys (who were quite impressive) to middle aged men (who were the only people wearing safety gear).

Walking back, I tried to remember when I had last been in the sea. Apart from putting my feet in when in Cape Cod last year, I can't remember when it could be. Therefore, later in the afternoon I went out into the Pacific Ocean. With the waves coming in it wasn't really swimming conditions, but it was a lot of fun.

With a wonder round town to close out the day, and the weather being a little cooler than previous days (but still a pleasant shade of warm) it was a lovely day.