Staring at the stars on Hollywood Boulevard

A slower day in Hollywood

Well the Best Western Hollywood Plaza may be a noisy place to sleep but it has the great advantage of being 5 minutes walk from Hollywood Boulevard. So after a slightly interrupted nights sleep due to noisy people/cars/doors etc. we eventually headed out to find the Hollywood and Highland Mall which is situated on the intersection off Highland Avenue (where our hotel is) and Hollywood Boulevard.

A late breakfast (okay it was really lunch) of pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup (or nutella for Jack, or chocolate and banana waffles for Mark) we made our way to Grauman's Chinese Theatre in front of which many a "hollywood star" has left their imprint in the concrete.

Following some of the stars on the sidewalk we found the Hollywood Museum in an art deco building originally owned by Max Factor. Here are shown on display a wide variety of photos, props, artifacts and clothing as seen in numerous films.

From huge displays on Marilyn Monroe to Hannibal Lector's prison cell from Silence of the Lambs we were treated to four floors on a multitude of films and film stars. Unfortunately photography was forbidden but believe us when we say it was a sight to behold.

Afterwards we had to pursuade Jack that the "Ripley's Believe it or Not" museum wouldn't be worth the $48 entry fee - he did really well at not being too upset about it - thankfully!

I (Annabel) have to say that I was singularly unimpressed by all the stars on the sidewalk. This was probably because I didn't recognise many of the names and also a load of names in the same font means nothing. I much preferred the more personal touch of the impressions outside the chinese theatre.

The fourth floor of the mall also afforded us a good view of the infamous HOLLYWOOD sign on the hillside but the zoom on the camera wasn't quite up to the job of getting a really good photo of it unfortunately.

The afternoon was finished off with some shopping, a visit to the chinese theatre to watch Hellboy II and fast food Mongolian BBQ style - only the best cultural activities for our kids!

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