St . Patrick’s Day

You don’t realise how big this day is in the USA , it’s big , it even rivals 4th of July . I know that sounds a stretch , but here in Hermosa Beach it’s all out . From the moment I get up and run down the beach for a look at the conditions there’s the early starters , already dressed in green heading towards the bars for an alcohol fuelled breakfast . At 11am the whole town is shut down for the annual St Patrick’s day parade . The streets are lined in green , us too .Brass bands , dancing troupes , vintage police cars and any excuse to march proud in your green get up . It’s all in and embraced when it comes to festivities.Irish eyes were certainly smiling here . Afterwards we were invited to our 1st block party . At 230 we tentatively headed out the back of our joint and walked up the back streets until we got to the annual Loma street St Patrick’s day shindig . A section of street closed off to traffic with Police and council permission , all for the means of drinking Guinness and listening to live music. Where in Aus are ya gunna see the cops and council let you do that ? A jumping castle , table tennis tables , a stall selling green attire and a serious live band , oh and beer supplied . What more do you want ? These two guys we just met . The bloke on the right was just visiting his mate in LA . He’s from Adelaide . Yep pure coincidence but the 1 st guy we speak to is an Aussie and his name is Shamus on this most Irish of days . We run into Kristen who lives just around the corner and she just happens to work for tourism …….Australia. Can you believe it ? After a couple of fun filled hours the party dissolves . It’s not even 5 o’clock and Emma and I are looking at each other confused . That’s it , it’s over . Just like that? It’s Saturday , we should be heading to a backyard to sit around a fire and …. keep on drinking , but no . It’s a major difference in the Australian culture and the locals over here . We keep on going . Stuff going home and making dinner for the kids , showering them and putting them to bed . The kids can free range it around us whilst we get drunk and chew the fat .Thats how it should be . I’m telling ya , they’re soft over here . Stuff responsibilities, they can wait till Monday . As it was I’m still very impressed with the block party and St Patrick’s day . We of course did kick on , but where else ? … Gary and Emma’s , our Aussie mates and neighbours . But before I sign off I want you to check the band and this chick out in the following video . Remember this is out the front of someone’s garage on the street . Turn it up loud and listen to this , block party style .