From Romantic Dinner to Loving Lunch

Within 24 hours we have sampled great food in places that have the most amazing memories for Lynda and Me. Oh, and had a Cup win thrown in.

So we started the evening off with a selfie outside the "Mr, Lyons " steakhouse which we first came to around 10 to 12 years ago.

What it was called and how it looked when we first came here was --

The tree is still there just a sign change-- also below is the original owner David Lyons
 

 

 

 

 

 We had the pleasure of meeting this man many years ago and loved everything about the quaint Englishness that he put together here since 1945 -- an entrance that looked like a Castle , memorabilia all over the place including the Leaded Light stained glass images and of course the Red Leather booths were we would have dinner.

 

Since the owner died at 103 and his son died soon after the business was closed until it was sold to the new owner now - Tara Lazaar -- who has a number of other similar businesses in Palm Springs. She has changed many aspects of the old style and has brought in a slightly more subtle , glamourous look of her own and I think we were both sad to see the old style gone but very pleased to be able to dine there last night. 

 

A little |Moscow Mule to kick off with-- and a favourite picture of us to go with it--

Very subtle dining room now--

Amazing sunsets on our way back to the hotel---

One of the signs that was kept was this one around the side of the restaurant where the new owner has introduced an outdoor dining area and a Boules pit.

 

So one last swim yesterday and off to LA today---

 

If you had not known before , when you leave Palm Springs it is almost always by the I - 10 when you go from there to LA, and about 15 miles west of Palm Springs is a Factory Outlet called  Cabazon -- Desert Hills Outlets,

We have NEVER ever before been able to drive past without going in to shop -- until Today that is -- Result.

 

So instead we kept going on to the freeways , flyovers, traffic delays , damn parades that no-one mentioned that meant we spent more that half an hour trying top figure out how to get to the coast

Some kind of Veterans Parade that went on for miles -- god bless them all -- but it did make us think twice about what we were doing and where we were going , but would never begrudge these guys their opportunity to share their pride.

 

One of the things that has always astounded us is how the people accept that you can having Power Stations sitting right next to beaches and sea piers that folk visit and more power lines than you can shake a stick at mixed in with people houses and businesses, but hey , we all need electricity right.

But as this whole trip is both seeing lots of new places , we always said that some of it was a nostalgia trip and there is no way that we are coming to LA and not going to visit Redondo Beach and Pier and more importantly to have a late lunch in Tony's on the Pier 

We have been here with Rod & Ann twice , on our own twice and 2 years ago we were here with Terry and Charlotte , so it is special to us

Pictures here tend to be the same-- waves crashing in

Seagulls on posts--

And pictures inside the Restaurant--

 

 

Always images on the pier to capture--

And the inevitable selfie on the edge of the pier.

Power stations next door

Following this visit we had to get to the Hotel in Glendale and if you didn't know before , LA has some of the most congested interstates and freeways in the world as these shots show as we headed north --- 

 

 

 

A big brush with the City

 

Still more incredible architecture

And finally , we made it to here and are relaxing after the long day that it has been--- well of course it did have a certain football cup match this morning here and it helped put a smile on my face for the rest of the day , the weekend and for many days to come---

Up the Chels

 

 Well done boys and well done Antonio Conte & Staff.