DAY 3

HAPPY TO BE IN BEVERLY HILLS

Thanks to those who have posted comments.  We appreciate the good wishes and the suggestions including places to visit and restaurant recommendations.

We thought we would begin with a short walk down memory lane.  

As we get older, each year seems to pass quicker than the year before.  We can't believe our last stay in Beverly Hills was in January 2008 just days before the start of World Cruise 2008.  We remember that moment as if it was yesterday.  We stayed at the Beverly Hills Hilton since that is the hotel that Crystal Cruises used for the World Cruise Gala.  It was the only hotel that could accommodate the number of guests booked on the full World Cruise.

We didn't know much about the hotel other than it hosts the Golden Globe Awards. We remember the writers' strike that year.  We walked a lot during our pre-cruise stay.  One morning we arrived to Westfield Century City  before the stores opened to see a man walking with a young boy.  The man turned out to be Adam Sandler.  He was kind enough to stop for a moment for a photo and was just your average person.

Unfortunately, it was sunny, but this is a photo of our memory of Adam Sandler.

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Shortly after arriving to the hotel yesterday we took that walk down memory lane as we passed the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel (also passed the new Waldorf Astoria Hotel) and made our way to the mall.  The mall underwent  a major expansion in 2015.  We did not see Adam Sandler but in 2008 we saw him very early in the morning.  LOL.

After getting settled at the hotel, we took a long walk before dinner.  At one point we were walking on Rodeo Drive which where many areas were decorated for the holidays.  

We enjoyed dinner at The Roof Garden Restaurant at the hotel.  The name describes the restaurant.  It is on the top floor of the hotel located next to the outdoor pool and spa.  The tables are under large umbrellas.  There are gas lamps near the tables providing some much-wanted heat when the sun went down.  In fact, midway through the meal we asked if a second heater could be brought closer to our table.

The wait staff was amazing as was the food.  We each had salads and as we were eating them we remarked how much we enjoy salads and fruit in California.  We both had a Ezpazote-Scallion Marinated Pacific Swordfish entree which was delicious.  It was all the more tasty accompanies by charred corn, avocado and chayote-Lime slaw.    

It became fairly dark outside shortly after we were seated  so we didn't get take photos of the food.  Very few people were dining but that will quickly change as we get closer to the Christmas Holiday. With that said when we got back to the hotel before dinner the bar area was very busy and the area off the lobby where tea is served had been equally busy when we left the hotel for our second walk of the day.

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We slept well last evening given  we were up very early on Sunday morning and our body clocks were two hours later than the time in California due to the time zone difference.  The room is located in a corner section of the hotel with no rooms on the bedroom side.  We heard no noise.

Before breakfast Keith took a walk around the lobby which was all lit up with Christmas decorations.

Our hotel package includes a daily breakfast.  We had breakfast in our room.  We had cereal, fruit, coffee and water.  We were surprised at the size of the fruit plate and the coffee pots and only had a portion of it.  We will know better for tomorrow and will plan to share on plate of fruit and one pot of coffee and even that is too much.

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Our goal today was to pick up items needed for the cruise which we did not bring with us from home.  This includes some liquid items for cleaning clothes, nail polish remover and batteries. 
We walked to Rexall Drugs where we found most of the items on our list.  

We enjoyed lunch at Eataly located at Westfield Century City.  This is an Italian Market with restaurants, cafes, counters selling food and wine and a cooking school. 

Anne Marie is half Italian and as we stopped by several of the counters with food she would point out items and reminisce about the wonderful meals her Italian Nana (who lived with her family along with her grandfather) would prepare each night for the entire family.

We also walked around the Mall for quite awhile. 

Before leaving the mall we stopped at Gelson's Market where we shopped in 2008.  The store underwent a renovation earlier this year. They added places to eat  including a sit-down bar, grill station and a Wolfgang Puck pizza counter.  The majority of floor space is dedicated to items found in grocery stores.  We purchased a few items including some wine.

Some photos from Eataly.

We returned back to the Hotel for a short break and went back out and walked towards Rodeo Drive and then on several side streets.  The weather was terrific with the sun shining and highs in the 60's.  

We returned to the Hotel and took advantage of the beautiful patio enjoying some wine and fruit.

The hotel is truly amazing with so many personal touches.  This is the first hotel we have stayed at that personalizes the pillow cases.  For Anne Marie it should have been AMS but they are forgiven.  LOL.

We have dinner plans for this evening and will post about this tomorrow.

​Anne Marie & Keith