A few changes of plan as we faced an unusually-wet day. It being unsuitable for Universal Studios, we first tried the Central Los Angeles Shopping Plaza and found out how to park after some trouble only to find many of the shops closed on Saturdays but I did get a copy of Mr Wright’s ‘Spy Catcher’ that is still a banned book in England! Then I suggested the ‘South West Museum of Indian and Western peoples’ which I always like and think about how these Native American Plains ‘Indians’ were dispossessed and displaced by the hunting of the Buffalo, and then appropriation of their land. Family lunch and dinner and another early night
Our habitual fitful night’s sleep, but, since we were in bed by 7.00pm and up by 5.00am, we had a good 10 hours period to choose from. Di made the early morning drinks and, as we bathed and dressed, I noticed it was pouring with rain outside! This was to last all day. There is supposed to be only ¼ inch of rain, on average, in Southern California in October and 2 inches in November. However, we have had more than that in a few hours of an October day and several inches more in all. I tried to find a news and weather programme on the TV and radio but, being Saturday, children’s TV programmes reigned supreme and I could find nothing of interest, let alone information. Then we loaded up the car and drove to Coco’s for breakfast and watched the rain fall outside the window.
As the weather was unsuitable for our planned trip to Universal Studios, I decided that we should stop off at the central Los Angeles Shopping Plaza. Some trouble driving around the centre of LA, before we worked out how to park the car at an adjoining hotel. I left the family in the lobby and walked off through the rain to the shopping plaza, but found out to our disappointment that the vast majority of the shops did not open on Saturday! After some thought, I opted for us to re-board the car and drive out to the South West Museum of Indian and Western peoples. Got there early, as it did not open until 11.00am, and so we went off to get some hamburgers and drinks from the neighbourhood take-away. Back to the Museum and I spent a fascinating couple of hours looking at the exhibits. I was particularly touched by the Plains Indian display, and the Californian peoples. Sad how these Native Americans were dispossessed and displaced by the hunting of the Buffalo, then appropriation of land. Poor Di couldn’t have a reasonable look, as the two girls were restive. In the end, Della overturned a book display in the museum shop and Di knew it was time for us to go. We still had time to buy a few books on Indians that I will enjoy reading at our leisure. By the way, at the hotel this morning, we also bought a copy of Mr Wright’s ‘Spy Catcher’ that is still a banned book in England. Once we left the South West Museum, it was time for an activity for the girls and so we drove north to visit the ‘Kidspace’ activity centre for children. There was an ‘ant colony’ that the girls loved, being a labyrinth of tunnels and carpeted stairs for them to climb up and through. The long drive back to Anaheim and still it poured with rain. Then an evening meal at Tiffy’s family restaurant, which was passable. Back to the hotel and another early night. Someone told us today that the rain is due to continue, which is terribly bad luck on us. The weather forecast is for more showers in the morning, but then, hopefully, some sun in the afternoon.