California dreamin' - Driving down the Highway 1

Star spangled banner

Banner in San Luis Obispo

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 Brothers

Reine setting the direction south

A view to a kill

It was almost impossible not to start humming on 'Are you going to 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

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

The sign

Yes, so I am a movie buff. Shoot me, but I just had to take this picture.

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

Jumping jack flash

Make sure to stay away from the splash zone!

Seaworld, San Diego

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

Bring on the gondola

The interior is not bad either. This indoor setting beats most of the outdoor settings I've seen in a while.

The Grand Canal inside the Venetian, Las Vegas

Bring on the gondola

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