By 8:30, we're all in the car. Our goal is to get to Los Angeles by 2:00 p.m. because Davide has to head back to Italy first.

On many of our trips, we’ve avoided the city of cinema because it’s expensive and chaotic, but this trip is a must-see, so we’re taking this opportunity to have fun and explore a side of the trip we haven’t experienced yet: the city and the ocean.

We arrive in Santa Monica in thick fog. It’s cloudy and cold—a far cry from the image of crowded, sunny California beaches we’ve seen so often on *Baywatch*—but we’re not giving up.

We leave our cars in a covered garage and take a stroll along the Santa Monica boardwalk, going crazy over the luxury stores and car showrooms—except for the Cybertrucks; those are really ugly.

We arrive at the famous pier, crowded with tourists and American fans watching the World Cup match against Australia. We take a few photos at the pier and eat burgers and fries, while the sun begins to peek out from behind the clouds racing by, driven by the ocean breeze.

So we head down to the beach to set up camp and take our first swim in the Pacific Ocean. The water is freezing, but it’s a beautiful, liberating moment.

We split up, agreeing to meet at the promenade where we had parked. Some stay behind to relax (and soak up the sun) on the beach, some head back to the little shops in Santa Monica, and others go to visit Venice Beach with its famous outdoor gym.

Meanwhile, others are heading to the airport. It’s time to see Davide off to Italy and pick up—just like a soccer substitute—Finley, who has joined us on a domestic flight from Tampa.

Everyone’s surprise at seeing her arrive at the meeting spot is exciting and touching. Finley will join us for this last leg of the trip to Vegas.

We hit the road again—or rather, we’re back in the gridlocked traffic of Los Angeles. We weren’t used to seeing so many cars, people, and civilization anymore. It makes us appreciate even more the desert we crossed and will cross again to reach our final destination. We drive right past the Hallywell sisters’ house from the TV show *Charmed* and climb the hills of Hollywood to snap a photo among the tourists with their shiny luxury cars.

We head north, leaving the city behind and stopping for the night in Lancaster. We eat burritos and Chick-fil-A chicken in the car, have a quiet beer in the hotel lobby, and then off to bed—all of us visibly sunburned from the California sun.