Hollywood,Los Angeles.Bev.Hills& Universal Studios

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  Los Angeles, California, United States
Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Got the train from San Diego to L.A. Just under 3 hours, very impressed with Amtrak. Why dont we have Double Decker Carriages in the UK?? If we can have bendy buses in London !!!!!
Anyway I finally left the grotty weather behind, and when I arrived in L.A it was really warm and sunny weather, much more like it.
Booked into the Holiday Inn Hollywood Walk of Fame Hotel. Very nice Hotel which is in a great location 5 minutes walk from Hollywood Boulevard. The Boulevard was in chaos on Monday as they were clearing up from the Oscars the night before, which is held at the Kodak Theatre on the boulevard. As no time to waste I decided to book myself onto a Bus tour of Hollywood, Bel Air and Beverley Hills that afternoon.
There was only half a dozen of us in a mini-bus, but it was quite a laugh. As our driver/ guide was mad as a hatter, a Chinese American. Mind you to drive in that traffic every day would be enought to send anyone potty. Got driven around all the exclusive residential areas above L.A town. The properties really are amazing, with the more expensive ones regularly being in the $20 - $30 million bracket. We went past the Beverley Hills Hotel a couple of times  This is where a lot of the rich and famous stay when they are in L.A. The place had been packed out the night before for the Oscars, and there was a long line of  Limo's with security staff waiting to pick up their clients from the Hotel on the monday afternoon. There were also loads of Papparazzi everywhere waiting about, though not much seemed to be happening. As apparently most of the biggest parties dont wind down to 06.00 on the monday morning I suppose people are not up and about too early that day. It is certainly a different world here, a lot of the lost exclusive roads were had security stopping you going down them without invitation. There is also a small park up in Beverley Hills where the carpark was full of Limo's. This was mainly staff out walking their boss's dogs apparently.
Managed to get some decent photos, and saw the Hollywood sign, Graumanns Chinese Theatre and all the usual tourist stop offs. The Boullevard was a bit of a disappointment. There are about 2000 stars on the pavements. A lot of them are US  tv or film stars that would not be well known outside of the US. But on the whole they were not well maintained and were a bit of a letdown. Amazing when the stars have to pay $15,000 for the privelidge of actually having the star put down!!!

The other side of L.A is lots of beggars and down and outs. This is worse here than I have seen anywhere else I have been to. And when it is late and dark, you dont feel particularly comfortable just wandering about. I was thinking that myself, and had several other tourists say that to me at the hotel. So was in the Hotel bar by 21.00 on the Monday night, which was very busy, probably for this very reason !!!

Tuesday I was up and about early. Went to Universal Studios. Had no idea how busy it would be so I was there half an hour before the gates opened. And was a real benefit, as I was on the first tour of the day round the Universal Studios film sets, back lot and recording studios. I really enjoyed this, and was the main reason for me going. I can take or leave the Theme Park thing totally anyway, but you cannot deny that the Americans know how to do this better than anyone, the place is spotless, lots of friendly helpful staff etc. The roller coaster rides were something else also. They certainly are bigger and better than anything I have seen in the UK. As it turned out the park stayed pretty quiet all day, which was a real bonus as I managed to get round the whole park quite easily in a day. Also really enjoyed the special effects studios, and the Set where the film Backdraught was made. As it seems like they set the whole place alight while you are in there. A good tip is to go in there directly after coming off the water rides, as its a good way to dry off, because the heat inside there is tremendous.

Got the metro ( underground ) back to Hoolywood/ Highland Avenue. Their tube system is much simpler than London, only about 3 0r 4 lines. But at only $1.25 set fare on any one line it is a dam sight cheaper than in London ( Mind you I suppose they dont have Ken Livingstone as Mayor here !! )
Had a chinese meal again tonight, its very reasonable here in the US. Got a great meal and a beer for $12. Had a soak in the Hotel Spa baths, then a couple of beers in the bar.
Have decided to use the Metro to get to LAX airport as it will save me a bit of money ( So sensible !! ) but have spent more than what I have saved on a beachside room at a complex in Fiji ( Makes mental note to economise once I get to New Zealand ! ) The flight to Fiji is about 11 or 12 hours. Am not quite sure how many time zones I cross as I leave L.A late on Wednesday night but dont arrive in Fiji until Friday morning. Not quite sure how that works !!! Am flying into Nadi airport ( Pronounced Nandi ) on the island of Viti Levu and the transfer is only about 20 minutes. So that is USA bit of my trip done ! Highlights have definitely been Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Alcatraz in San Francisco. Universal Studios here was great too, and to see the "ridiculousness" of L.A in general is quite an experience. On the down side I have been suprised about the amount of people seemingly homeless that are begging on the streets. Even in San Diego, which was a smaller very friendly, spotlessly clean place - there still were lots of people routing through bins and asking for money. Certainly much worse than I saw in London this summer. Its been a great 2 weeks, though very hectic, so am looking forward to a change of pace in Fiji......................

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