Grandma and "Education Day"

So Saturday comes and we head north to LAX to pickup Grndma Smith.  She is going to spend the weekend with us before going to to visit her grade school friend who lives in Huntington.  Since we were up in the area, we thought we would check things out up here.  First was the Santa Monica Beach and Pier.   HUGE BEACH!  My guess it has to be about 400 yds (or more?) of sand.  Went to the pier - kind or like a fair (or Bay Days) and way too crowded. Rode the ferris wheel.  Got to see a relay Stand Up Paddle board race. It was cool.  Walked up to Third Street promenade of shops and vendors.  Kids love street performers.  Here is video of one.

Abby & Sophie and the monkey vendor

Now the education begins - went to Venice Beach.  This is like the Haight-Ashbury of beaches. Vendors selling the weirdest stuff (painted skulls, posters of Marilyn Monroe with tattoos, inscence).  Amy, the great mother that she is, took the big kids into the "Freakshow" after Grandma said she would pay for it. They might be scarred for life after watching a guy let people staple money to him among other things.

Grandma, Sophie and I saw our own freakshow by continuing walking down the beach.  Must be pretty easy to get a medical marijuana prescription as there are many storefronts where the "doctor" is in (on a Saturday??).  Couldn't talk Grandma into taking a $29 appointment!  Definitely don't want to be here after dark.

Then on to Huntington Beach to meet Grandma's friend.  Picked her up and took her to Sanchos Tacos, the dive place with the best mexican that Amy and I found when we were out here in November.