California dreamin' - Driving down the Highway 1
From San Francisco to Los Angeles along Highway 1, before moving on to San Diego, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.
A view to a kill
This looks like a good place to start.
Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco
Lead by my Oakley"s
"It"s 106 miles to Chicago, we"ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it"s dark and we"re wearing sunglasses."
-Elwood, The Blues BrothersReine setting the direction south
A view to a kill
It was almost impossible not to start humming on the song "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie.
Overlooking San Francisco bay with Alcatraz island to the left
A daydream in blue
The city looks so peaceful from here.
San Francisco bay
Beneath the red arches
Two years later it's time to cross the Golden Gate again, but this time we're heading south.
San Francisco
Cable guy
A cable car going up the steep California Street. The speed is regulated by pulling a large lever that makes the car hook into the chain that rolls in the tracks.
San Francisco
Pier pressure
Every trip to San Francisco must include a visit to the moody sea lions at Pier 39. Even from a distance their noises are deafening.
Reine at Pier 41, San Francisco
Hello there
Going south.
Montara
Follow the yellow line
Driving across the territory of Arnold the Governator.
Highway One
Wazzup
Not the best beach, but it's a start. California contains about 1000 miles of beaches that include flat, sandy expanses or rocky shores.
Reine on yet another beach along Highway 1
Bridge over troubled country
There are signs along the highway that says 'Fine $1000 for littering'. I can understand why.
Bixby Creek Bridge on Highway One
The other Rocky
This beautiful bridge was build in 1932. It is often mistaken for the better-known and larger Bixby Creek Bridge.
Rocky Creek Bridge
Seaside
Arriving in the cozy town of Monterey. It is well known for its excellent aquarium where the sea otters are particularly cute. Later the same evening we stood on the rooftop seen straight ahead and saw wild otters swimming in the bay.
Monterey
Got the blues
One of the fantastic exhibits is this stunning one-million-gallon tank, home to the world's largest community of open-ocean animals including giant bluefin tuna, hammerhead sharks and huge sea turtles.
Monterey Aquarium
Roundup
This is the largest permanent collection of jellyfish species in the United States, beautifully lit in a dark room.
Monterey Aquarium
Splash
Arriving in the beautiful city of Carmel, where Clint Eastwood used to be mayor. As our feet touched the fine-grained sand, we instantly knew why.
Carmel
Curves
The future is just around the corner.
Highway One
Waves of the west
Not even Till Lindemann would swim here.
Pacific Ocean
Smile and wave
The restrained smile could be hiding a faulty hand-brake and a dent in the front.
Reine at Highway One
Kodak moment
I wish there were more roads like this back home.
Highway One
Retrospective
Objects in mirror are closer than they appear, as car manufactures tend to write everywhere.
Pacific ocean along Highway One
Wax on
Would you let this man drive your car?
Reine doing the infamous crane kick along Highway One
The ancients
The Hearst Castle is located close to San Simeon, situated on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This palatial estate of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst contains 165 rooms and countless expensive items.
The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle, San Simeon
Stately living
The view of the Pacific is adequate for your morning coffee. The gardens of the estate are littered with priceless sculptures, including 19th dynasty egyptian statues.
View from Hearst Castle, San Simeon
Morning dip
Another good place for a swim is the indoor roman pool. It is styled after ancient roman baths.
The Roman Pool at Hearst Castle, San Simeon
One
Seems like we're on the right track.
Highway One
Star spangled banner
Banner in San Luis Obispo
Smørrebrød
This is the charming Danish village located in the Santa Barbara County. Much of the movie Sideways was filmed here. The buildings and bakeries follow traditional Danish styles.
Solvang
I see you
Barad-dur! We found it!
Highway One
Mein teil
Back home we adopt children and rain forests. In America, they adopt highways.
Adopt-a-highway, Malibu
LA is my lady
Arriving in LA! At least the road is a lot wider than the coastal highway, but unfortunately there are a zillion other cars in the eight lines of traffic.
Los Angeles skyline
Insanity
Driving in LA is a refreshing experience, better than double espressos.
Los Angeles freeway
Crash and burn
I have a distinct feeling that our car rental agency won't like this image at all. This is from the set of War of the worlds, actually located next to the house on the hill where Norman Bates' mother lived in the movie Psycho.
Universal Studios in Universal City
Dream of californication
The Hollywood sign near the top of Mount Lee in Los Angeles
Dead man walking
An ordinary sight on the streets of LA.
Walk of Fame at Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
Frankie goes to Hollywood
Alpha team in position.
On the roof of the Kodak Theatre, the home of the Oscar's ceremony in Los Angeles
Lady in red
Home of Hasselhoff and the other baywatchers.
Santa Monica beach, Los Angeles
Yeeargh
The sea lions are not as friendly as they look.
Seaworld, San Diego
Smile and wave boys
This penguin studied us thoroughly for a while, and I came to think of the penguin squad in the Madagascar movie.
Seaworld, San Diego
Desolace
We can't stop here, this is bat country!
Interstate 15
The road to Zzyzx
At first I thought it was a hallucination, but this is a 4 1/2-mile dirt road leading from Interstate 15 to Zzyzx.
Interstate 15
Desolace
Not a good place for gas stops.
Mojave desert
Viva Las Vegas
The strip section of Las Vegas Boulevard is the active part of Las Vegas, crammed with hotels and casinos.
The strip, Las Vegas
Room with a view
This was actually the view from our hotel room window. The green thing is the MGM, and beyond it dawn on the horizon where the desert begins.
Excalibur hotel, Las Vegas
Water dance
The daylight version of the famous water show is also excellent.
Bellagio fountain, Las Vegas
Bring on the gondola
The lovely exterior of the Venetian, with the Mirage volcano a bit away.
Las Vegas
O sole mio
The interior is not bad either.
The Grand Canal inside the Venetian, Las Vegas
The piazza
No city replica is complete without an indoor square, with an opera singer on the balcony to the left.
St. Mark’s Square at the Venetian, Las Vegas
Rock of age
Finally reaching the end of the journey. Time for a Evel Knievel trick! Notice the people on the left.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Rock of age
A bit tired and dusty, but quite happy with the view.
Reine at Grand Canyon, Arizona
Rock of age
Grand Canyon, Arizona