After some pacing the hotel room from the early hours of this morning and an amazing breakfast, the mini coach came to pick me up from the hotel for my Grand LA Tour. Firstly, on the transit coach that took us into Holliwood to join with all the others for tour, all bar one lone kiwi were Aussies. Crazy, hey? Here I am thinking I might be a novelty and get to meet lots of people from all over the world, but no, I'm surrounded by reminders of exactly how banal and ocker my own accent can sound. Oh well.
While we were waiting to meet at the coach to start the tour, we had a few minutes to spare so I sought out the nearest Starbucks for an early morning kick. Unbeknownst to me, I actually wandered through where all the stars walk up the big red stairs into the Oscars every year. Granted, I don't sit down and watch televised awards ceremonies as a rule. I was just happy to get my Venti White Chocolate Mocha.
First tour stop of the day was the Hollywood Bowl. What a fantastic venue! How come when I travel, my bucket list grows longer instead of shorter? I can only imagine turning up to see some one like Coldplay or Kings of Leon play there - the acoustics would be incredible!
Next we returned to Hollywood for a little walk down the Boulevard there with all the stars' stars. I didn't get to go hunting for my favourite artists in earnest, but the Chinese Theatre has lots of star's hand and footprints in the concrete out the front, including Johnny Depp, Marylin, John Wayne to but name a few. Oh and I did see Michael Jackson's star. What an insane stretch of this famous road.
As soon as we turned the corner (on foot), it was like we'd entered a different world. People in superhero suits, bold creatures trying to entice you to part with your cash either at a nearby souvenir store or paying for a photo the have had taken 'surprise!' Of them with you. There were even rival tour touts harassing us to book with them even though we were very obviously aleady on a tour. We wandered through the Dalby Theatre complex, including an amazing Sweets shop with 'crunch' chocolate bar in the floor that actually crunched when you stood on it and a piano staircase. We also had a drive through the very flashy Beverly Hills, headed downtown to Chinatown and the oldest street in LA.
I have posted some pics on Facebook. I ended up doing my iPhone reset here at the hotel, so I'm none the wiser about putting my photos here on the blog. The problem is that when I try to install Google+ on my ipad, it tells me I am at the American iTunes Store and I can't for the life of me work out how to change it back to Aussie iTunes.
Tonight I took a solo drive down to Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier. Parking is a bit of a funds drain, but I guess location and security are more than worth any ridiculous price. The sunset over the ocean was amazing andi got to see a quite eccentric-looking but very talented pianist on the Venice Beach boardwalk. Unfortunately, the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel was closed again (it was closed when I visited on Monday morning.
Well, I'm exhausted. I can't believe that I have been in LA for less than 48 hrs. I feel I have already been here a week. Big day tomorrow - Tijuana here I come!!!
Goodnight.
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