If anything, the fog thickened overnight so we packed up some rather damp tents. As the next two nights are in a hostel in Los Angeles I wonder what they’ll be like when we unpack them again. A brief run brought us into the affluent Spanish Colonial style town of Santa Barbara, although, as in many places there were still homeless people out on the streets begging openly. Unfortunately, most shops didn’t open until ten o’ clock and the Art Gallery I found, exhibiting Picasso and Braque, not until midday. Still a cheerfully helpful man told me where all the main attractions were and the information was passed on to the girls.
Not everyone is affluent in Santa Barbara
At least a Starbuck’s was open for business so I sat down with the New York Times for half an hour in an attempt to catch up with what is happening in the political world of America. Two stories caught my eye.
The first concerned one of the legacies of George Bush who passed a “No child left behind” Law in 2002. The main thrust of this policy was to make all school students numerate and literate by 2014 and progress was to be monitored by annual standardised tests sat by all students. Schools identified as ‘failing’ would be shut down. Concern has grown that many teachers are now teaching for the tests and excluding the broader curriculum in order to do so. President Obama proposes to let individual States to apply for a waiver from these strictures but the path seems rocky as the test results still form an important part of annual teacher assessments. All of this seems a bit familiar to me.
Gail Collins, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/opinion/perrys-bad-night.html?_r=1&ref=gailcollins writing about the potential Republican candidates expressed concern about the incoherence of both the leading candidates, seen to be Senators Rick Perry and Mitt Rooney at this stage. It would appear that both have introduced what would seem to a neutral observer, to be socially worthwhile pieces of legislation. Rooney has introduced Health insurance for the uninsured in Massachusetts whereas Perry has enabled College Tuition for the children of illegal immigrants in Texas. In the sparring that is part of the run-up to the Presidential elections both have chosen to rubbish the other’s policy in public!! Statements from both candidates seem to have the same crystal clarity that we associated with George Bush. It appears that those Americans who voted for Bush did so on the basis that if he got in trouble, his parents could help him out!!!!!
Refreshed and entertained by this I visited the Casa de la Guerra, a superbly well restored home of one of the first Governors of California. Part of the complex is built in a Moorish style and houses a seriously classy restaurant, El Paseo, as well as a very expensive wine merchants. I was politely moved away from this as they didn’t open until midday.
This was probably a good thing as the cheapest wine I saw was over $40 a bottle. From here I returned to the Court House, allegedly the most beautiful public building in the country. On limited evidence I would have to agree.
Again, the whole thing was constructed in Spanish style around a central lawn and most of the courts were open for viewing. Over the main entrance was the motto, “God gave us the Country – the skill of man built the town.” If God did the former, it seems probable to me that he provided the skill to do the latter as well.
Leaving Santa Barbera under a still grey sky we departed for Los Angeles where we are due to spend two nights in a hostel. I have to confess to being underwhelmed by this but it is the price to be paid to combine the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and other scenic wonders. We drove through Beverley Hills and down Sunset Boulevard before spending some time on Rodeo Drive, where all the expensive shops are. All the top labels were present and not a price tag in sight. I decided to photograph some of the displays and once again, was asked to move from a store so exclusive that it appeared to have no name. I was allowed to photograph from the pavement and once we had negotiated where this started I got my photos!
Next stop was Hollywood itself and the site of the Oscars ceremony at the Kodak building. Thronging with people, this was not my scene but there was plenty to divert the mind with people touting for tour groups and lots of street artists dressed up as stars of the screen. Most of the shops were filled with the rubbish typical of tourist places the world over.
Eventually we made our way to the hostel in Santa Monica and, after a shower we went to a Thai restaurant for a meal. Strangely, the girls were served with wine here but afterwards we split up to enjoy the rest of the evening. I was drawn to an English pub where world cup rugby was being played. The beer (Bass) was foul but the rugby excellent; what a great game it is! I enjoyed the second half of the Tonga v. Samoa game in the company of an elderly but knowledgeable Japanese couple. It seemed so much better than the American Football I’ve been trying to watch whenever the chance has arisen. Tomorrow, the girls are bound for the Pinewood Studios but, having seen two studios already this year I think I’ll have a quiet day and charge up the batteries for the rigours ahead.
No comments:
Post a Comment