California

---

Before heading for Australia, my parents and I spent two days in LA where we met up with my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Norm. I've never been to LA despite traveling through the airport on numerous occasions so we tried to see and do as much as we could in the short time I had there. After settling into the hotel we jumped into our rental car to take in some sights. From my backseat window I saw the La Brea Tar Pits, Rodeo Drive, and street after street lined with Royal Palms. We stopped by the Santa Monica pier to check it off the list then strolled down 3rd Street to do some window shopping and have tea at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Co. which we were told is California's "Starbucks." Next, we headed out to Malibu to see all the homes teetering on the cliffs and getting licked by the ocean. We began to lose sunlight so we headed east toward our hotel on Sunset Boulevard and drove through all the famous neighborhoods, such as Brentwood, Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, and Pacific Palisades. We even saw some famous sites such as Hotel Chateau Marmont (you'll know this if you've ever breezed through a gossip mag while standing in line at the grocery store or if you're a Belushi fan), the Comedy Club and the Laugh Factory, Whiskey a Go Go where The Door's used to be the house band, and Rainbow Bar & Grill where Springstein and Marley have played.
The next day as we were leaving our hotel to do more exploring my dad almost knocked over a small woman being followed by a tight entourage as she came through the doors. It was Joan Rivers! Our hotel was next to the Convention Center where the Grammy's were being hosted that weekend so she was coming to check it. Naturally, I tried to eavesdrop as she checked in but quickly lost interest and was just happy to check off "celebrity sighting" from my list! From there we went to another major shopping area that was recommended to us as a good way to spend the afternoon people watching. Since the Oscars were only a few weeks away the SAG hosted Oscar exhibits around the city and luckily one was in this particular shopping mall. So, swept up in the Oscar buzz, we jumped in line with the rest of the tourists and got our pictures taken holding an Oscar. After that we had to head back so I could pack up and head to the airport to catch my flight to AUSTRALIA!!!

---

Photos

Hollywood sign
Had to get the billboard of Joan Rivers after we had JUST spotted her!

Chateau Marmont
Where Belushi died and all of young Hollywood drinks underage

Comments

[Mom]

fashion emergency
I didn't even realise our scarves were practically matching! Horrors. Good thing Joan Rivers didn't give me the once over in the hotel lobby!Sorry about that. We had fun though!

[Caitlin]

I like the Thank Ya Jesus comment. And Aunt Kathy spells her name like that...not like how you did! :)