#2,294 Pacific Coast Highway.

For years we’ve dreamed about renting a convertible and driving the Pacific Coast Highway. It was always a kind of far-fetched dream that was only made possible all of a sudden because of this incredible gift, being sent to work here for a couple weeks. And everything about today surpassed what I imagined it would be like, to see the West Coast of the United States. I didn’t realize the mountains and the sea and the vineyards would be so woven together the way it is. It was always hard to understand from the movies and pictures I’ve seen all my life, but today I understood. And it took my breath away. We started the morning with a last breakfast in Santa Barbara at Joe’s Cafe, where they play doo wop and serve cheap, hot coffee and pancakes.

And then we set out on our adventure. Tonight we’re going to bed early so I’ll let the pictures tell the story of our trip from Santa Barbara through Carpenteria, Ojai, Ventura, and Malibu. When I saw the receipt for renting this fancy car, it made my stomach lurch. Now, at the end of the day, I see that it was worth every penny and more to have that experience we may never have again.

And at the end of our 4-hour PCH dream, we stopped for lunch at Josh and Anne’s house near Malibu.

Then we headed into the heart of Hollywood to see the touristy sights, just because you’re supposed to do that sort of thing, right?

And since we’ve been enthralled by The People vs. O.J. Simpson… We passed by the Bundy Residence of Nicole Simpson, which made me feel so sad.

Which is, incidentally, extremely close to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air house.

And by sunset we were home again, home again in Santa Monica to start our last week of filming.

Our gratitude for the last few days can’t be overstated. We’ll never forget it.