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Start of the Walk of Fame
Stardom for John McMillan on Hollywood BoulevardCrossed both the Equator and the International Dateline on our 9 hour flight from Fiji to Los Angeles. We left Nadi at 2300hrs only to arrive in Southern California at 1300hrs on the same day, 10 hours before we left Fiji. Quite weird!!
Up until now we've always been in front of GMT but now we're 8 hours behind.
Our destination in LA was the USA Hostel in the heart of Hollywood. This was practically the only accommodation we'd booked before we left home. 7 nights in a private ensuite room for 380 dollars.
From LA airport, known as LAX, we caught the Flyaway Bus to Union Station then hopped on the Red Line Metro to Hollywood and Vine.
First person we saw when we walked out the station into Hollywood Boulevard was a lookalike Johnny Depp in Pirate Mode.
Our hostel was in a great location, yards away from the Walk Of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. The room was a bit small but it did have a large plasma screen TV with cable. This hostel is perhaps the most international one we've visited. Guests from every continent seemed to be staying
Venice Beach
Art and Movie being Filmed here, except Antartica of course. We arrived on comedy night, they have 5 or 6 comedians who like to try out their routines on an international audience. Most of them were really good, some who have appeared here have ended up on late night TV shows.
Once again, we did the usual touristy things on our first day, walked along the Walk of Fame looking at all the pavement stars to see which names we recognize, like Queen, Errol Flynn, Johnny Cash, Charlton Heston, and the Rugrats. Then we passed the Kodak Theatre, the home of the Oscars on our way to Grauman's Chinese Theatre where the famous have their hands and sometimes footprints preserved in concrete. To get there you have to fight your way through all the lookalikes wanting money for photos with them. Some of them look the part, others are crap!!
The hostel had activities planned for every day, we joined in their guided walk to Runyan Canyon. Apparently this is where the rich and famous jog or walk their dogs. It is a great walk up into the Hollywood Hills, although it was very busy we never saw anybody famous. We also never
Santa Monica
Pedestrianised 3rd Avenue saw any mongrels, every dog seemed to be a fancy breed, it won't do to be seen with a scabby mut!! The same applies to their cars, plenty of recognizable makes but they all seem to be the top model. We were told that Simon Cowell drives a car worth over a million dollars. The top of the canyon has a brilliant view of the city, and across the valley towards the Hollywood sign, this is where we saw the former home of Madonna and Jason Timberlakes house.
Took advantage of the free shuttle to Venice Beach. The weather in LA has been unusually dull so the place was pretty quiet, still, it has a good feel about it. From there we walked north along the walkway to Santa Monica, this is much more upmarket with a good selection of eateries and shops. Made our own way back to Hollywood by local bus in time for the barbecue at the hostel.
One thing that struck us about the US is the food prices, so much cheaper than Australia, New Zealand, and believe it or not, Fiji!! The only thing is, most is Junk Food!! it
isn't easy to find healthy choices near our accommodation.
Took two buses to the Getty Centre near Bel Air. This free museum sits on the top of a hill in a fabulous building. Paul Getty, billionaire lived to a ripe old age and accumulated a vast collection of treasures, including paintings by Monet, Cezanne, and Van Gogh or Van Go as the Americans liked to say. This museum is well worth seeing. On the way back we saw a movie being filmed and a large queue of potential actors waiting to audition for a part.
One of the biggest tourist destinations in La La Land is Beverly Hills, we went with other hostel guests on the so called, Houses of the Stars walking tour, all the other tours drive, not us!! we all jumped on the no 2 bus. It was good fun, even although the young ´uns were more interested in houses belonging to the likes of Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Bunny Ranch. After a long walk we ended up at Rodeo Drive. Went window shopping and had grub in the Beverly Hills Diner. Never seen anybody remotely famous
Runyan Canyon
Onwards and Upwards all day. Went for a pee in the public toilet made famous by George Michael.
Trivia fact, the only star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame which is not on the pavement belongs to Mohammed Ali, which is on the wall of the Kodak Theatre.
Booked a return ticket on the Greyhound Bus to Las Vegas for 58 dollars(one way 46 dollars)Not sure returning at 2300hrs is a good idea. The USA Hostel in Vegas costs about 65 dollars, we booked 5 nights at the Stratosphere Hotel through Expedia for 46 dollars per night. This hotel is the one with the tallest structure in Vegas, on top of which are two scary rides. No intention of trying one!!
Our room was on the 17th floor with a great view towards the mountains and Red Rock Canyon. After checking in, we made our way down to the casino, although we´re not big gamblers it was worth playing a dollar at the slot machines cos if you´re sitting at the one armed bandits a waitress will serve free drinks. Vodka and Coke, Please!!
Next day, caught a bus along the strip, that is an adventure in itself.
Grauman´s Chinese Theatre
Movie Premiere of ¨The Vice¨ starring Daryll Hannah Takes forever, at every stop about 20 people get off, 20 people get on. Had to do it!! It was over 90 degrees and I had cracked heels and my toe problem has started to re occur, Nightmare!!!
Visited lots of hotels, Venetian, Caesers Palace, Bellagio, and New York, New York. Their size is incredible, all of them have thousands of rooms, casino, restaurants and shopping malls, the Venetian even has a canal on the second floor complete with gondola rides. Have to say, Vegas isn´t as over the top as I imagined, it has a good vibe, everyone wants to enjoy themselves.
Over the next few days we wandered into most of the big hotels on the strip. Paris, France is more like Paris than the real thing. Not Really!!
In front of the Bellagio they have an impressive fountain display to music every half hour.
Vitally important was finding somewhere to watch Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final. It wasn´t being shown in our hotel so the search was on, started with the concierge, did she know where I might see it?
¨Yes!!¨ ¨An Irish sports bar, it shows
lots of soccer¨.
OOps, I thought.
She phoned them to check. Even she couldn´t believe their answer.
They were showing it alright, but listen to this, at a cost of 20 dollars.
¨but you never charge¨ she replied
The guy on the other side told her it was the Celtic Supporters Club who insisted on it.
It actually took my breath away!!!
Talk about a, LACK OF CLASS!!!
I thought they couldn´t sink any lower, but I was so wrong!!!.
Searched all day looking for somewhere else showing the match, looked downtown and along the strip. Finally found success at the Luxor Casino.
Turned up next day to watch the game after another mad bus journey. Sat next to a Russian Guy, which was fine, except I had to listen to a couple of Glasgow Celtic supporters and their wives cheering every opposition move.
What was I saying? LACK OF CLASS!!!
Was obviously disappointed after the final whistle. The best team won on the night. Rangers, not surprisingly looked a tired outfit. Well!! Celtic´s Director public statement insisted that the season couldn´t be extended.
What
was I saying? LACK OF CLASS!!!
What stuck in my gut was the reaction of the Glasgow 4, even in far away Vegas they managed to bug me.
Jumping up and down, taking photos with the Russian Guy, who incidentally thought they were Rangers supporters congratulating his team on a fine victory. Nae Chance, Mate!!!
What was I saying? LACK OF CLASS!!!
That´s my wee rant over.
One thing anyone visiting this gambling capital must see is Freemont Street in downtown Vegas. To compete with the attractions of the strip they roofed over a large section of the street. On the hour each night there´s a fantastic laser light show. Every one is different, well worth seeing.
Next stop San Diego, not sure about our travel plans. An overnight Greyhound bus to LA then the 0600hrs bus south. The first bus was fine but the trip to San Diego was something else!! It was full of crazy people, some talking about being in Jail, others still in hospital clothes, and three homeless folk. Maybe, they record the Jerry Springer Show in San Diego.
First impressions of San Diego as we walked to the hostel was that it is a properous city, although it has its fair share of tramps. The difference between them and their Glasgow cousins is shopping trolleys, the Americans hurl their belongings around in them, Glesca Tramps are too cool for that.
San Diego is more expensive than other California cities, our hostel was 73 dollars for a room. It did have a great location, in the Gaslight Quarter on the corner of 5th Avenue, this is where all the bars and restaurants are situated. In the evenings it´s so busy with punters out enjoying themselves.
Although we had little sleep we decided to go over the Mexican border to Tijuana on our first day. Felt like we were back in South East Asia, everyone wants to sell you something. All they see when you approach are dollar signs.
I know this is not a typical Mexican town especially with all the organised chaos at the border crossing.
Change of scenery on our second day, we went to Coronado and its Victorian hotel made famous
as the location for the movie, ¨Some Like It Hot¨ Starring Marylin Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. And it was hot!! normally San Diego enjoys a mild climate with average temperatures of 70 degrees but since we arrived it has been in the nineties.
On our last day we visited Balboa Park which is larger than Central park in New York. The park has numerous museums and the world famous Zoo.
Also spent some time at the Harbour area where they have shops, Marinas, Maritime Museum and the Midway Aircraft Carrier.
Another marathon journey ahead of us!!
Off to Central America !!!.
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carol
non-member comment
fun had by all
hey you two, looks like ur living the life!!!! it must be great to see all these different things and experience all the different people you meet as well!! the girls that i work with, we have just come back from a wee jaunt to wemyss bay caravan park - the sun £9.50 holiday !!! what a laugh- the people you meet are just from another planet!!!!!!!! looking forward to hearing about your next advenure, take care + be safe XX carol+david