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Hollywood Tour, LA Clippers game & Mexico
Entry 32 of 48 | show all | print this entry |
Got a couple of days worth here so will split it up.
27th December, 2007.
Hollywood Tour
We were up bright and early and travelled into Hollywood for our Movie Stars Homs Tour. We had to be there by 8:45am and because we were expecting traffic we left early. Had a good run in there so had some time to kill. Was very cold in the morning, they had winds the night before which were still bringing in cold air from inland and the mountains. Don't think we've ever experienced cold like that. Once the wind settled down and the sun is out it is lovely but that wind.......
Anyway, we got on our little tour bus which was full, no spare seats. Everyone besides the driver was from Australia. People behind us were from Newcastle, they were sour faced so and so's, don't know why they bothered booking a tour, did nothing but winge and complain. We loved it and loved the info that was given to us as did the Aussies from Melbourne. Our driver was a Thai/American and really funny, she was very informative, you'll hear her on our video. We were taken up closer to the Hollywood Sign and through Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills. Saw the secured gated areas where the big stars live and could see some of their homes from the stops that we did. Saw Justin Timberlakes home. When he's away all the curtains are kept closed, when he's home they are open and yep, they were open. Went up a small street nest to that and could see his gates and all the security cameras along the fence line, we waved. He pretty well owns a side of a mountain to himself. Some of the homes were lovely. Recognised Jessica Simpsons home from her TV series. She lives near Morgan Freeman, his place is massive. Others that we saw were Christina Aguielera (?sp), Britany's, Robbies, Lucy Lui's, Lucille Balls, some Guess dude who owns 17 Ferraris, Dr Phils, Mick Jaggers, Marilyn Monroes, Jennifer Garner, Demi Moore, Queen Latifah and numerous others. Also saw the Condominium where Cher, Elton John and Lindsay Lohan stay. Also got to see some of Rodeo Drive, spent time there while the driver dropped off the complainers from Newcastle at their hotel. The Melbournites were heading off to Vegas and San Fran next before going to Hawaii so we gave them some shopping tips!
After the tour we did some eating at In'N'Out Burger and then some shopping in Hollywood before heading off to Glendale for some more shopping but didn't get what we were after. Funny thing is though, we are in an electronic store and Rick finds a huge book on 24 so we got that.
L.A. Clippers v Phoenix Suns
We finished off the night back at the Staple Center. Parked the same place as last time, I'm sure they know us now. Only about 100m from the Staples Center and only $10, others were $20-25. If anyone else is planning on going to a game there it's on the corner of Flower and 12th.
Funny seeing a basketball court there after seeing the hockey and a few extra seats around the court. The place was quite full, more there than at the LA Kings game. Don't think the atmosphere or entertainment was as good as the hockey, a bit disappointing really and all the give aways were aimed at the lower levels, you know, the ones that can afford the $$$'s for the good tickets. Give them a $10 voucher and they don't care, give it to someone in the nose bleed section and they would appreciate it more. They did have the chicky babes though in their skimpy outfits strutting their stuff and doing their splits though, Rick liked that.
The game in itself was good. We did go in backing the Clippers, think Jenny and I could have played for them and done a better job. The Clippers didn't attack for the 1st half of the 1st quarter, they'd put up shots and no-one there for the rebounds. Phoenix were all over them. Clippers have a very tall, big white dude who really needs to look at retiring. I was saying he was too old and slow and other regular fans ended up saying the same thing. Suns ended up winning by just under 30 points.
Rick did get held up going in as we had our cameras with us (had them all day) and they wouldn't let him take the video on. We didn't want to take it back to the car so ended up being escorted by security to a Guest Link place where we had the option of handing it over to them and having it locked up until the end of the game. We did remove the battery though so they couldn't view anything (not that they would but you never know).
28th December, 2007
Tijuana, Mexico
Another early morning as had to get picked up from the hotel and then taken to a depot where we got on our coach for Tijuana. We had driven most of the way before when we went to the zoo but it was nice with our driver. She spoke just about all the way down there and gave us information on just about everything. Rick had spotted a nuclear power plant 2 days ago and she confirmed that it was. There is a lot of military things down along the coast and that was all pointed out to us too as well as history. Getting to Mexico was fine, no problemo crossing over the border. Our driver had given us tips on how we would be approached etc and bargaining. She also pushed a few stores our way that she is friendly with. I did get myself 2 sterling silver necklaces. Rick was worried in case they weren't real but I'm pretty sure they are ok and one was similar to one I already have that has seen better days. The longer one is lovely and I'm going to have to have a look when I get home to find a similar one and compare. Did look at other ones in other places and on the street and they were obviously only silver coated. Also went to a perfume store. Rick got a couple of bottles of mens smelly stuff (Hugo Boss Soul & Tommy) and I got a couple of bottles of perfume (Charlie Red and Moschino). Alisha also picked up Hugo for herself. They also gave us a free pen and watch. It's a nice looking silver watch that Josh can probably use for good. Andrew, it even goes around the right way as did the "Rolex's" that we saw! We went into a Farmaceutica and got some drugs!!! I tell you, these places are incredible. You can get anything there with no script. Antibiotics, anti-hypertensives, hormones, maxalon, viagra etc. Even advertise Viagra as a Christmas present. No, Rick didn't buy any, he's not at that stage yet. I reconised a lot of the names although some were in mexican (metoclopramida). Got some Zovirax cream for $3 each, some Ventolin and Rick got some motion sickness tablets. You almost feeling like a celebrity there as they are all wanting to pull you into the stores and they love australians. We must have it written all over our foreheads because as soon as we approach the stores they ask if we are australian and then say "gidaaaaaaaaaay maaaaaaaate" to us and "sheeee'll be riiiiight maaaaaaaaaate". You do have to feel sorry for them as they need to compete against each other to get a sale and they are living on next to nothing. We also bought a couple of Australian coins. Can you believe we spent $50 and got a $1 and 50c coin. The man wanted $35 each for them but Rick haggled. They are really unique, he has a fine little fret-work saw and cuts away around the inside and leaves the main feature of the coin, really detailed. He has smaller less detailed coins for $7 and then the prices rise depending on the work that goes into them, does coins from all over the world. Nicole gave him some coins to continue on with. It takes him a full day to do the more details coins. We also got pictures taken with a Zonkey (cross between a zebra and donkey). One of them was really funny and kept making weird hew hawing noises, didn't sound like a donkey but didn't sound like anything else either, think it had an identity crisis.
On the way back to the border the driver pointed out some statues and sights and stopped to let us see some of their homes. They use whatever they can get hold off to build some of their homes. A lot have no electricity or running water. If an older place falls down they don't even remove the rubble, they just put up another shack type thing in it's place. Their is rubbish everywhere, it's incredible to think that people can live like that and only a few km's away on the other side of the border are big mansions. Even to see children having to work on the street to sell their goods, very sad.
We all had to get off the border to get back onto the USA. The driver was explaining what process we may have to go through, depending on what mood they were in, sounded scary. She also pointed out all these crosses on the border wall that represent lives lost of people that have tried to cross illegally. She said that many cross over and don't allow for water and they are out in the heat, 50 odd degrees and die.
Our bus stopped and there was a couple of mexican girls there having a full on bitch fight and no-one doing anything to stop them. They were pulling each others hair, scratching, punching, kicking and pushing each other into a wall, it was full on. I actually looked around for Jerry Springer!!! LOL. We had no trouble getting through the border which was just as well as I wasn't prepared to be strip searched, didn't have fresh lippy on or anything. I just showed my passport which had all our I-94 cards in there, they counted 5 off us and we all went through, girls even chatted friendly to the Homeland Inspector. Put our bags through the x-ray machine and that was it. Meanwhile the driver was having the bus searched from top to bottom.
Better get going as kids want to get on to their myspaces.
Love from USA Woolfes
Oh, can someone see if they can book some therapy for Rick when we get back. Don't know how to stop his spending, can see he's going to go through withdrawals. Next thing I'm buying will be half a dozen bags to put everything in!
Steve, think you'll need to bring two utes and a trailer to the airport!
Latest Comments (3)
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Tijuana Trip (reply)
Dec 30, 2007 07:23 EST by joanna52
Good day globtrotters
Looks like the sights are not the only experiences you are having for the first time
Cold to the bone just has to be experienced. I hope you left room in the cases Rick for some Xmas decorations american style I am eager to see what Yvonne picks up. Post Xmas sales have been very poor here.
The travel guides are just brilliant, one we had could have been May West ... show all
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Mexico (reply)
Dec 29, 2007 11:01 EST by trahernbt
Damn I need antibiotics and its hard finding things here,,,,,,,damn............I could have sent you my list. Could you go back again lol.
Evie
sounds like fun and the bitch fight just dandy.
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cold-hot (reply)
Dec 29, 2007 09:13 EST by mumgran
I've rang around and think I have found a good therapist for Rick,9am 15th January,ok !I think you may all have to go with him.So hot here at the moment and going to be for the rest of the week,new years eve is going to be around 41c.Don't see too many people about,they are all indoors with their air conditioners on.Glenn,Linda Auntie Jean,grannie,Tasha,Keisha and me all went down the beach tonigh... show all
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