Football’s not coming home but I am

Waiting to board one of those double-decker planes that seem to be too biggly to fly. It’s 15 minutes delayed already but it’s a long flight so 15 minutes doesn’t really touch the sides.

We had a fab few days in Venice Beach. Went for a delicious meal at Felix where the young and beautiful hang out. I had pasta with lemon and Bert opted for a pizza. It was a little hip for me but we were given little seats at the end of the bar so we felt like we were on the naughty chairs.

The sun disappeared as soon as we arrived in Venice. We had booked a 5-hour food tour for the first day which had high points and low points. We toured Chinatown, Vietnamese cafes, Spanish and Mexican areas and Little Tokyo. The first stop was a tea shop where we drank tea and had some yummy beef dim sum and a pastel de nata (or something like it but not very tasty), with some dried pineapple chunks and mango slices.

Bert got a fetching new hat and we stopped at a bakery that sold real cream cakes. Very rich but at least we only got one to share.

Next stop was for an egg sandwich. Yeah. Reminded me of a food tour in Delhi when one of the stops was at a place where I ate a mango jam sandwich. It was a pleasant egg sandwich and the bread was white but not sugary. Onto a small Vietnamese place that sold bahn mi – which were delicious.

Five hours later, we had had enough really. So when it ended at the Central Market – which was just a load of restaurants – we had an ice cream. It did have a big chilli stall but I had no idea which ones to buy.

While quite full, we had to check out the In N Out burger place that is exclusive to California. The burger was actually quite tasty but the chips were too flaccid. We forgot to ask for them to be crispy.

Our final full day we cycled down the path to Santa Monica and the sun came out. It was great to see everyone out – loads of people had music blaring out of speakers while they roller-bladed, skated, cycled, mono-cycled, tricycled. The amusement arcade beckoned us and we played air hockey, shot some hoops, did the “penny” falls. We won enough points to get two bright blue chewy sweets. Well worth it!

Pedalling back to the hotel, I went for a swim and Bert poked his toes in. I had a delicious delicious taco from a beach bar (it came with 4.9 rating which was 0.1 too little).

Gala dinner was a disappointment – the place was too dark, too loud so we had to shout and the waiters were rubbish. The food was nothing to speak of and didn’t warrant a photo. The pre-dinner cocktails on the roof terrace of our hotel were very good though. We should have just stayed there.

So today, Sunday 14 July, and we were planning to join some fans at The Olde King’s Heade in Santa Monica. It was heaving by the time we got there so went on to the next place that was reservations only. Luckily we bumped into some other English people who said there was a Mexican bar round the corner which they had watched the semi in. Hot-footing it, we got front seats at the bar. It was a good mix of English and Spanish fans. But I think the shouts were louder when England scored.

So I am coming home to a country that will feel a bit down because of the football and a bit down because of the weather. Am bringing a bit sunshine with me and can’t wait to see husbant, who is performing Live and Direct at the Howling Owl tomorrow night. And to hug Bella.

Thanks to Bert for being a great travelling companion and ace navigator. For being calm when I was fussing about where to park or how to turn. It was an amazing trip.

Where next?