We had a week in Los Angeles before we went to Las Vegas.


We stayed in Orange County and explored the beach towns.


The walk along the beach from Newport to Balboa was thirsty work.


And, being a right pair of nosy buggers, we loved peeking into the posh houses lining the beach path.


It's not in Orange County but we had a lovely day in Santa Monica.


There's a 'monument' on the beach to American soldiers killed in Iraq since the war began. There is also a sign explaining that if they placed a cross on the sand for every dead Iraqi there would be no beach left to walk on.


The original Muscle Beach was in Santa Monica near the pier.


The new location is in Venice Beach. This tattooed stud begged me for a date.


But I had to turn him down as we had dinner reservations that night at In And Out Burger. Classy!