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Hollywood
The famous sign, couldn't be arsed to walk up Los Angeles Not spotted Arnie yet unfortunately, although I could have done with him at LAX cos the check in procedure was about as much use as Anne Frank's Drumkit! Took 2 hours because the check in desk wanted a finger scan and photo off everyone. After that farce I eventually made it to my hostel in West Hollywood which was only a short bus ride away from the walk of fame. There's some weird choices for the stars like Rugrats and a ton of others I can't remember of the top of my head. I was half expecting to see Topcat or Snagglepuss but looks like they don't appreciate their comedic genius. On the area outside the Graumann Theatre there's the famous hand prints of movie stars and it draws allsorts of entertainers dressed up as film characters to try and snaffle tourist cash. One time there was this bum who was trying to get himself out of a straightjacket with chains shackled round as well. Looked like the lad had plenty of practice in the nuthouse cos he managed to get out fairly easily. I also visited Universal Studios whilst I was there, not much to write home
Walk of Fame
2,336 stars, amongst them... The Simpsons, Bugs Bunny, Michael Mouse, Rugrats, Godzilla, Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Snow White and Winnie the shit, sorry Pooh about cos I've been to the one in Orlando and it's a lot better or maybe that's only cos I was a nipper at the time. I managed to sneak in a game of football with the boys at the hostel which was good. The knee held up ok which was a relief until I woke up the next morning as stiff as a board. Still, good to get a game under my belt. Didn't have time to explore any more of LA but it would have took forever anyway cos of the sheer size of it.
Las Vegas Finally, I reached Vegas with dreams of coming back minted, didn't quite go to plan. The first night there, I rolled into the Bellagio Hotel and waded straight into the blackjack, 15mins later and I'm 100 bucks down looking like some chump who's let the occasion get to him. Determined to get back on track I called in at an Irish place called O'Shea's hoping some of that paddy luck would pay off. I headed straight for the pokies and threw in a fiver clinging to a four left clover as I did so....not really but something must have worked
Hoover Dam
Arse end of it, the drop at the other side is insane (used in Mission Impossible I think) cos I managed to win back 60 sheets and left a happier man that I'd been all night. I more or less kept the same throughout the night so ended up 40 bucks down, not too bad considering the start I had. Vegas at night is unreal, it's like been in Blackpool but 100 better without the shite weather and crap arcades. The hotels there are themed on places around the world. At Paris they have the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, Luxor is a Pyramid with the Sphinx at the front, the Venetian has San Marco Tower, Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge and at New York New York the hotel is the famous Skyline with the Statue of Liberty outside, all of them lit up like a Christmas Tree. Aside from that, they're absolutely massive, I went for a mosey round the MGM Grand and by the time I reached the other end I was sweating like Michael Jackson on a school bus gasping for air like some oap who'd run the London Marathon. Throughout the night there's free shows on offer a few of the hotels, the best probably been the Bellagio fountains that dance to different
Ron Burgundy, Wax Museum
"Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina" music on the hour. The Mirage has a replica volcano that explodes coloured water and fire which is quite good. I didn't manage to catch any proper shows there cos I got to the box office too late on both nights. Would have loved to have seen one of them burlesque shows, something to do next time definitely.
The 2nd day we went through to the Grand Canyon which is about a 5 hour drive into Arizona. The views there were sweet and I reckon the best on the trip. That night, I went out with the intention of getting at least even but blew another 100 bucks mainly of the Roulette and Blackjack again. Overall loss, 140 big ones over 2 days which is 70 quid. Couple of nights out round tarn, I know which I'd prefer!
San Francisco The bus through to San Fran took chuffing ages (7.5 hours) but at least it's the last one I'm gonna do. On the way here, the driver and some old bint were arguing over a doll she had that kept making noises. She wouldn't shut the f@ck up and this must have gone on for about 15mins with
New York New York
"Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today, I want to be a part of it, New York, New York..."
me pissing myself at the back. They actually threw her off the bus cos she had a talking doll, unbelievable.
The first full day here I went through to the Golden Gate bridge for a peruse round. The bridge is 1.2 miles across so been a lazy get I only walked on a few steps for a few snaps before turning back. They reckon the cables in there could stretch round the globe 3 times, I'll take their word for it. The next day I caught the ferry across to Alcatraz which is about a mile out from the bay. There's been a few famous faces there like Al Capone, "The Birdman of Alcatraz" Robert Straud and "Machine Gun" Kelly so the place is really interesting. I did the audio tour which guides you through all the relevant areas on the Island. There's a mock up of the fake heads some of the prisoners used to try and escape as seen in the film, "Escape from Alcatraz" starring Clint Eastwood. Didn't get a souvenir head though cos the US airport would have shit themselves!
Yesterday I went to watch some mens rounders at the AT&T Park. San Francisco
Paris - Arc de Triomphe
Cesser de traduire ceci et continuer de lire Giants were playing the Philadelpia....wait for it.....Phillies. From what I saw, each team gets 9 innings (whatever the term is) and take in turns batting. Then they add up the runs at the end. That's probably not 100% correct but anyway, it's not the most enjoyable of sports, they hardly hit the bleading thing and when they do it's usually caught. Gimme football anyday!
Not sure I'm gonna write a summary blog so if this is the last one, thanks and hope it's been a decent enough read. Got to adjust to normal life now which is gonna be a ballache.
Si thi for 'maybe' the last time.....
JP
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Pierre Le Pont
non-member comment
Nice one to finish on
Some good photos there son. Fantastic end to a an ubelievable trip. Just the final leg to do now. It's forecast rain in Manchester tomorrow. (Nowt new there !) so you'll be suffering the post travel-of-a-lifetime blues instantly you land. Be good to see you though son, see you at the airport. Papa x