Day 1 - Left home at 8am Friday, arrived in LA 23 hours later!  Thank heavens for “sky beds”!  Great flight with Air New Zealand….very attentive, tasty food and generous amounts of Mumm champagne and a variety of great NZ wines.  Nice idea that with the ‘herringbone seat pattern’  allow you to dine together.

Airport is a fair way out from the city ($42 – 50 cab ride, would be $80 – 90 in Brisbane)– we are staying at the Sofitel, Beverly Hills and have a view of the “Hollywood” sign from our room.  Sofitel is always consistently good and this is no exception….comfy beds, Lanvin products, excellent staff.

After a freshen up we walk down to the Farmer’s Markets (about 25 mins) which includes a beautiful French Market, glass of wine – we are on holidays after all, then back home for a tiny ‘cat-nap’ before heading to the Ivy for dinner – zucchini flowers, lobster – delish J

'Hollywood' sign in the distance 

In the lift we were greeted by two French bulldogs and one very large great dane!

Farmer's Markets

Lobster stuffed with crab meat!

Christmas at the "Ivy"