I arrived in LA an hour before I’d departed Auckland. Sadly, not due to a time machine, just the weird timezone things that happen when you travel. When I come home I’ll arrive two days after I leave.

I got outside the airport around 6pm, so the drive to Venice in Adriena’s convertible was in the gorgeous sun. I love this area – its a little bit hipster, but mellow. We walked up the road to the cutest wine bar for dinner which was a great start to me falling in love with Venice.

We cycled to the beach this morning (after donuts for breakfast). Adriena has a surfboard rack on her bike and I managed to cycle on the right hand side of the road with no accidents. Apparently the risk of lawsuits ensures people are very careful of cyclists and pedestrians.

Venice Beach is seemingly never-ending with lifesavers everywhere and coastguard boats, even though the water is so safe – no rip here. The area we went to was surfers only, then swapped to swimming only, which worked out perfectly for us.

Of course everything is like the movies and there were millions of tourists, but as a visitor myself I had nothing to complain about. Apparently we were a little low on freaks today, but there were still plenty of notably orange joggers of indeterminate age.

I’d been told by everyone to eat Mexican in LA, so it was tacos for lunch, which were predictably delicious and a quick browse of the shops took my dress count from seven to nine.

We’re heading to Hollywood with friends and friends of friends of friends to go to a Hamptons themed club tonight, which somehow we’re on the guest list for. Tomorrow is all about hanging out at the pool at a nearby hotel, then back to Hollywood to see She and Him, Bird and the Bee and Swell Season at Hollywood Bowl.

If I lived here I’d be happy all the time, it is so good to be warm.