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Published: February 1st 2009
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After another 5am wakeup and trying the waffles (which were just like pancakes but fun to make nonetheless), we have an early start (leave hotel at 9am) and get in the Metro to head for Hollywood Boulevard which is only 5 stops from our hotels. After leaving the escalator, we stumble out into the street in the bright sunlight and straight away, we're on the walk of fame! Pinky coloured gold edged stars set in black marble with the names of thousands of artists from Film, TV, Radio, Music and extraordinary achievement. Grace Kelly, John Wayne, Peggy Lee, Marilyn Monroe are all there and a load more whom I've never heard of. Apparently the stars on the footpath last 3.5 miles along this strip of Hollywood Boulevard. After 20 mins, we have seen enought to saite our star appetities and turn back. It was a bit strange as the street itself felt rundown - bizarre shops selling wigs, fancy dress, then cheap electrical shops, pizza places, then large cheap-but-glitzy theatres with posters splashed about. A real mixture but no feel of the old Hollywood glamour. A shame but not that unexpected I suppose.
We notice on the other side of
Paul
Paul walking the walk. the street, a group of tourists standing infront of the Chinese Theatre. We go over and take pictures (to blend in, of course) and then I look down and there are the concrete squares that have got the names, hand prints and shoe prints of all sorts of famous folks. More photo's ensue and then not wanting to join one of the tours, we head up the adjoining stairs to The Galleria, which was a recently built shopping complex with a floor of restaurants, a floor of shops and then a cinema and outside court with some sculptures and a fountain. However, pretty much all the shops and restaurants seemed to be closed. We sat on a bench and ate our stolen muffin and then had a look up the stairs which looked out into the central part of the complex and there was a huge archway, through which you could see the "HOLLYWOOD" sign, perfectly framed. Well of course, another photo opportunity not to be missed.
We then left the Galleria and headed across the road and down a side street to Sunset Boulevard where we walked along until we reached Amoeba Music which was the biggest music
store I've ever been to - it's just HUGE! HMV has nothing on it. By this time, it was midday and the heat was well, hot! Walking was becoming a real effort so we went back to the Metro to go back to our stop and then go over the road to a diner called Denny's. By this time, we were using every ounce of strength to keep walking, the sun zapping us of any energy we could muster. We go through the door to be confronted by.... a helpful member of staff who ushers us to a table for two in the shade? No, sadly not - there is a queue of 20 people waiting for tables. "U turn!" shouts Paul and we trudge back out into the glare and down the road into the arrid desert where we soon collapse and vultures peck at our still twitching corpses. Well OK, that last bit was a lie and we arrive at a KFC just a few blocks down (see, I'm sounding like a local already!!).
With slightly recharged batteries, we notice that therre is a supermarket next door to the KFC - called "Seafood City". Surely not a
The Chinese Theatre
I had to use my machete to decapitate a few rogue tourists who refused to move to get this shot. supermarket selling only seafood? We go inside and it's bizarre - it's like a Chinese supermarket but guess what it specialises in?? yep, food of fish origin. Tinned, dried, fresh, not so fresh - dried shrimps, dried little fish, dried bigger fish (see, we're getting technical here), jars of shrimp paste, fish sauce, eels, crabs (supposedly alive but when Paul prodded them with the tongues, they didn't move an incha). We managed to purchase our items and then escaped to a licquor store over the road (which sold more "normal" items, when, at the counter, Paul noticed a packet of Horny Goat Weed - to enhance your sexual performance. Since when has the goat been renowned for it's sexual prowess?? But it made us smile all the same.
Back to the hotel to get inside the fridge to bring our core temperatures below boiling point.
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Dave R
non-member comment
"just a few blocks down"
I can't believe you are turning into a local already - run away. Excellent updates, sounds like you are having a great time. Mum, dad and myself are going a few blocks down the road to have lunch with your mum today, I have printed your three blogs to take with us. I think that might even convince her to get a computer! Have a fab time both of you. Dave.