Day 26-27 Los Angeles

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Trip Start Aug 01, 2007 Previous
Entry Trip End Dec 19, 2008 Next
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  Los Angeles, California, United States
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Day 26 - San Francisco to L.A.
"Roadtrippin with my 2 favourite allies..we got coke, we got snacks and supplies"

So here officially ends this exciting and eventful part of the trip
(officially known as the Golden Month) as I bid farewell to Naomi at
San Fran airport. We had a fantastic road trip and saw some amazing
things and met some weird and wonderful people. To be honest if Naomi
wasn't with me for this part of the trip I'd still be driving around
New York looking for a way through New Jersey. She navigated like the
devil, planned alot of stuff and was a top travel companion

LA yep, Grease was shot here

.

Blagged a lift from the airport to the Grayhound terminal from a black
fella who is obsessed with cruise holidays. He told me he has to have
depression treatment after every cruise (no joke).

The 8 hour bus journey started at 9am. It nearly started very badly
for a Kiwi couple who didn't queue properly and the bus driver (who I
have dubbed 'Mini Mitler') wouldn't let them on the bus. Common sense
prevailed. Mini Mitler also gave me the third degree, convinced I was
carrying contraband alcohol onto the bus (Mad fella). Mind you the
grayhound waiting area was full of wino's.

Later on in the journey durin one of our many stops Mini Mitler
refused to wait for one half of an old couple and juat drove off
leaving the poor wife alone on the bus

LA and here

. There was uproar from everyone
but he still carried on.

Arrived in L.A. around 5pm. Lucky for me the coach stopped off in
Hollywood rather than the downtown area (well rough). Arrived at the
Banana Bungalow hostel ($20 for a dorm bed) at 7pm. Excellent free
food laid out for all the guests and a good atmosphere here. Tomorrow
time to explore L.A.



Day 27 - Los Angeles
"Straight outta Compton.."

Woke up early today as I had an organised tour of LA to go on. I''m
not staying here too long so its a quick fix (cost $50 for a 5 hour
tour)

LA finally found what I was looking for

.

First stop was the famous Hollywood Boulevard where all the stars have
their names and handprints in a star on the pavement. I looked at
least a hundred stars looking for my heroes Laurel and Hardy but there
wasn't time to check all 2000 of them. Saw the theatre where the
Oscars used to be held. Very impressive with the very top stars
leaving notes, signatures and handprints in the cement outside. To
name a few; Jack Nicholson, Steven Spielberg, Henry Fonda.

Next was the famous Hollywood sign which was previously called
Hollywoodland because the owners used it to advertise their land. When
the city bought it changed to Hollywood.

After that it was time to do some paparrazi style celebrity house
gawking

LA Hollywood Boulevard

. I must have seen at least 50 celeb homes in Beverly Hills and
Hollywood Hills. Here are some of them; Wil Smith, Becks and Posh, Tom
Cruise, Marylin Monroe, Alfred Hitchcock, Jim Carrey, Ozzy Osbourne's
old house (now owned by Christina Aguilera).

Then it was time to do some star spotting in the famous designer
shopping streets of Rodeo drive. This is also where the hotel used in
the film Pretty Woman was shot. Didn't see any stars but the prices
nearly gave me a heart attack (a pair of socks at D&G $180..sweet
Jesus!).

Next stop was the Santa Monica beach area where they shot Baywatch.
All sorts of wierd and wonderful people here; body builders in the
outside Gold gym, hippies and beach bums begging for a spliff and
buzzing in the sun, rollerblading women and dogs (no..the dogs weren't
blading. LA folks aren't that bad) and the usual drunk bums.

Last bit of the tour was a stroll down Sunset Strip where alot of the
stars like to party

LA Hollywood Boulevard 2

. Saw the flat where John Belushi died after a
speedball and Johnny Depps club the Viper room wher the great actor
River Phoenix died from the same. Also discovered where Britney and
Paris party.

Got back to the hostel pretty late in the afternoon and made an
executive decision. I was to shave my head of hair ready for Central
America where flea ridden hostels await. Went to barbers and got a
number 3 all over (was nearly a number 1 but bottled it in the end).

Tomorrow its time to leave LA and catch a Greyhound to San Diego which
will be my base for a couple of days so I can backup all my photos
(before I lose the camera), do some well needed laundry and then its
time to enter the spanish speaking territory of Mexico (shit...only
managed to get to cd3 of my 8 spanish learning cd lesson....Aye
Caramba est Sacre Bleu!!)

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

LA Hollywood sign	LA Inspiration for the Eagles Hotel California	LA on the strip	LA Santa Monica beach
LA what a star

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