Shopping in LA

We didn't spend too much time shopping thankfully - just enough to keep Miriam satisfied, and for us to pick up some cheap clothes that we would otherwise have had to buy (and pay more for) back in England on our return. On our last couple of days we went to two malls - the first was Farmers Market just south of Hollywood, which was the usual collection of shops but was in an attractive area that (unusually for LA) had some history to it - it really was a Farmers Market in the 1930s ... ancient history by LA standards. The market itself now hosts dozens of food stalls and bars, and some live music, which was fun. Best shop I went to was Banana Republic, but the prices were pretty steep.

We left our major purchasing until the day before we left for home, when (on Barbara's friend Judy's recommendation) we drove out to the shopping centre at Glendale, a nearby suburb. This looked and felt a bit like Brent Cross in London, but less busy. I was looking for a jacket and found it depressing going into shop after shop seeing nothing I liked, or if I did finding it cost hundreds of dollars. But in the end I was delighted to find what seemed to me like jacket heaven, in a corner of JC Penny's. I ended up with a great leather jacket for $60, as well as a casual jacket and a couple of polo shirts, so I went home very happy. We sorted Miriam out with a few things for her new school, and it was a productive day all round.