Days 4, 5 & 6, 16-18th April. Beverley Hills tour, History Museum, Universal Studios & Moving on to Anaheim

Day 4-
Set the alarm today! After waking so late yesterday lol. And after another after-midnight night, was glad I did or it would have been a repeat performance. I went down and brought brekky up to the apartment again as the other 2 were still in bed. We enjoyed a relaxed meal then got ready to go do a city tour. Decided on the hop on, hop off bus as we werent really interested in the stars tours. The red line tour starts right in front of the shopping mall nearby, so it was easy & great timing as seems to be the case with buses and trains since we have been here.

Another lovely sunny and clear day, had to cover up a bit though as I got a tad burnt at Santa Monica yesterday. We drove all around Beverley hills, Rodeo Dr, Sunset strip and various famous hotels and restaurants/night clubs they frequent. All very pristine and clean and since it was Easter Sunday, a little hard to imagine all the glitz & glammer really! I just found out too, that the Dolby theatre we are staying just behind and walk through every day, is in fact where the oscars have been held!

 

 

The Viper room nightclub, famous for where River Pheonix OD'ed & died unfortunately

 

L.A beautiful with its palm tree lined streets

Car museum

Came back from the tour and we caught the 2 trains back along the same line as yesterday, this time to the Natural History Museum. Danni and I especially love all the antiquities, dinosaurs and various old, old, old stuff! Spent a good few hours there wandering around then we trained back to Hollywood and walked to where the In-and-Out-Burger joint is, as recommended but alas was shut!  Pretty dodgy actually as soon as you get off the main road - lots of homeless wandering around or sitting stoned or yelling at ??? Around the roadsides. We walked back to the main strip and bought a couple of bottles of beer and the most delicious chicken nachos from the Mexican bar and grill. They are different to ours at home, much lighter in the meat department, so you arent over-full after. They were delicious.

T Rex

Triceratops foot 

The museum has many gemstones

Graeme decided we need an early night tonight as we are hitting Universal Studios tomorrow. Looking forward to it since I remember Mum and Dads photos fromt here, back in the 80's.

Day 5-
Up and at 'em early today, we were ready before breakfast was on! We worked out that we could get the train to universal studios easy - its just one stop on the red line in the other direction to usual. Loading the metro cards is easy too- a one trip load on a myki -like card is $1.75 each way or an all day pass if you are doing more than one line is $7 p.p.

Off the metro and we were picked up by the universal studios shuttle to go up the mega hill there. After going today, the biggest tip  for sure is to buy the Front-of-Line passes. They are SO worth it cos you whiz past everyone in the ordinary queues, so we barely waiteed at all on any of the rides, when the wait time was up to an hour normally. The rides have moved with the times too - there are still some regular roller coasters but a lot of them are simulators with giant screens showing the roller coasters or drops etc. Makes it easier to handle on the faster ones. We all took turns at screaming and I mean All of us hahah!  The Jurassic park & Transformers rides were great especially, they are all pretty short though, we noticed. The Waterworld show was action packed and really worthwhile too!

Show had actors from famous tv shows & movies in it 

We're going in!

OMG the rotten egg, vomit, bogie & dirt flavours were d.i.s.g.u.s.t.i.n.g.!

Animal actors show

We ended the day with the studio tour that takes you down to all the movie and sound lots and puts you through some of the special effects. Saw some of the old sets from movies like Psycho (Mum!) and Jaws - we the shark came out of the water in a big hurry and proved that I really can scream like a girl haha and the real street off Melrose place etc.

We left about 6pm and back on the metro, then out for dinner at a fantastic Italian restaurant called the California Pizza Kitchen, which is just in the shopping mall next door- it was yum! Getting used to adding 20% tip on everything, painful but a fact of life when visiting the States. Then we wandered up Hollywood Boulevard for the last time and bought Danni a travel neck cushion for her flight home  on Thursday and we bought a freshly cooked and still warm churros - put Melbournes to shame!

The world of Harry Potter 

Look at the size of the beer over here! We shared lol

Harry Potter street 

Transformers - was an awesome ride

We are packing up tonight to head to Anaheim tomorrow for the last 2 nights Danni is here, to visit Disneyland!

Day 6-
We relaxed this am- need to get over the last  few days haha! Went down to the Pink store which is like a  cheaper version of Victoria Secret, then packed up and off to Anaheim. We were picked up in a massive GMC SUV, the suspension was so good! Didnt take too long to get there today as the traffic wasnt bad, about 45 mins. We decided to move instead of adding 2 hours of driving each day to the theme parks. The hilton here has a happy hour where they serve free dinks - the Karl Strauss wheat beer is awesome! And a light buffet which is complimentary Mon- Thurs. Very family orientated food but still nice to have.
Into bed after packing up, Danni is charged up for the theme parks tomorrow!

Days 2 & 3, 14 -15th April. Madame Tussauds, Baseball Game & Santa Monica

Day 2
Gotto bed about 2am last night, so we were a tad jet lagged & tired at 8am when we set the alarm for breakfast! The hotel serve a complimentary continental breakfast that you can have in the dining room or you can take it back to your apartment on trays. Patricia who runs it is lovely. They are mostly Mexicans & very friendly. They offer as much or as little as you want, yoghurt, croissants, bagels, toast, muffins, boiled eggs cereals and fresh juices. Oh! And vegemite which impressed Graeme!!Very nice and all fresh.

This morning we decided to visit Madame Tussauds which is literally just down the road. Its set up differently to the one we visited in London - the rooms are in themes. My late but great Patrick Swayze was in attendance, which made me happy! along with the surprisingly tall John Wayne and Lady Gaga who is so incredibly short & tiny! We had lots of fun as they also had props for you to wear in the photos.

'Psycho - for Mum' !

John Wayne was so big & tall. Graeme is 6'1"!

Stand-in's for Sandy

Life is like a box of chocolates & sombre 

 Kiss me Mr Cowell 

E.T - phoning home

Hunger Games - a sombre thought

Jim Carrey with the Collis's

Thor was no match haha

She was lucky we let her out of Hannibals jacket!

Hmmmmm....

Gray ready to go flying with Howard Hughes

That is SO rude to Bruce Lee, Graeme!

Oh Patrick!

Spent a couple of hours there then we wandered home, got some fresh sandwiches on the way and had a nap for an hour as we were buggered again!! Danni came and woke me - thought it was the next day haha!

We caught the metro to union station, which is a work of art in itself. Its huge and like yesteryear with the marble floors, ornate chandaliers and the shoeshine men who work at the massive leather chairs up on platforms. We read that there were express coaches from Union station to the LA Dodgers game we are going to, so went and got our bearings at about 3pm, then wandered over the road to the Mexican market which also had an event on with it being Easter Friday. A beautiful day again today, so it was lovely meandering around the stalls in the sunshine. There are so many colours in this type of market, so it was very nice.

 Bouganvilliea  at the Mexican markets

bright colours

This is a bottle holder?!!

Outside Union Station

The station is immaculate inside 

Wandered back to Union Station to wait for the 5.30pm bus as you are advised to get there 90 mins before the game starts. Everyone waits in queues here very patiently and there is no pushing or jumping  the line  - Americans are very fair. Absolutely everyone was wearing dodgers gear- we had t-shirts and a sweatshirt too. Graeme saw a guy with a all blacks shirt on & went up to him to chat - it was a couple from Auckland over to see ice hockey & baseball games on a short trip over here.
The bus only took 10 mins to the massive stadium, we all loved the atmosphere and seeing something on this scale! Makes Melbourne even look small lol. We talked to a vendor we bought caps from - we were only the 2nd Kiwi's he had met! Everytime we have been asked where we are from, they have suggested we were English, then Australians as a 2nd guess lol!

We bought dinner - Graeme and Danni had dodger dogs (hot dogs) with mustard and ketchup! We bought some beers which are so expensive, this is where they make the revenue I'd say, but all part of it! I had bought seats up in the top tier so we could soak up the full atmosphere and appreciate the sheer size of it all and they didnt disappoint.  They had all sorts of things going on with commentary - kiss cams, smile cams, service person of the month etc. A little boy who had lost his hands and legs to sepsis, came out to throw the first ball. He was the 1st child to receive a double hand transplant and he threw the ball great. Love the way they honour people here and are very patriotic too.

The game was the L.A Dodgers vs the Arizona Diamondbacks were some great plays and an exciting home run, although it was a very long game with lots of swapping over batting and fielding and it got really cold surprisingly. Finished about 10.30pm after the Dodgers won and we got the bus back to Union station  with lots of cheering dodgers fans and the subway to Hollywood. It was a great experience and Im glad we took Danni as she loved the game (and the fact that most of the players are over 6ft!)

Dodgers Stadium

Great seats for the atmosphere 

Perfect evening

Baseball virgins no more!

Everything is on the large size- yum 

Day 3
Woke at 4:50 am & thought that was it after another late night last night, but nope- crashed out & woke 1st at 10am!! Flew out of bed as this is the time brekky finishes here, so whipped downstairs & got breakfast for everyone & brought it back to the apartment. We tidied up then caught the metro out to Santa Monica. The subway here is incredibly easy as it is done on line colours and each is straight, so we caught the red line then the light blue expo line out to the seaside, took about an hour. Interestingly,  they have passed a law that recreactional use of cannibis is legal here, so some take it as a given. Young guys lighting up in the underground stations or when they get off the train, then you are walking in their smoke - bleh. So many people off their faces no matter what time of the day around the subway too and the homeless hang out there to sleep.

There was a definite spanish style of architecture as we travelled out to Santa Monica - some lovely buildings. Got there and wandered with the crowds down to the pier. We bought tickets to the ferris wheel and had a lovely ride that took us up and over it all on a perfect clear day.

Santa Monica 

The Pier 

Along the boardwalk 

On the Ferris wheel

We wandered arouond & soaked up the lovely spring break atmosphere. There are a lot of Asians living in Hollywood & many Mexican and Negroes - its a real melting pot of culture & ethnicity.
Booked in to the famously busy Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant from the movie Forrest Gump - we had planned this from home & it is mad busy. Had a lovely lunch of every thing 'Shrimp'over looking the sand and ocean. Got to keep the glasses from our drinks too!

Get to keep the glasses

The glass lights up (& yes the drink was THAT blue!) 

Tempting 

Then we walked along the boardwalk area, admired the buildings and the beautiful people out doing all kinds of yoga, lifting & acrobatics.

Flexibility!

She just sat there for ages!

Then went back to the train station and came back. One guy came on the train with a small radio & no headphones & proceeded to play his rap full blast while he shook up a bottle of liquid with a pink pill floating around in it - o.k..a.y. Pity the lyrics werent a bit better though.......something about a "nigger taking drugs & f'ing your momma" noice!@#@

Bought a nice fresh sandwich for dinner & Danni got a waffle with cream, strawberries & chocolate! Then back to the apartment to relax! Another great day :)

So Fresh

Day 1- Melbourne to USA 13 April 2017

What a big day! We made it to H.o.l.l.y.w.o.o.d!
We shuttled in yesterday to the airport & stayed at the Parkroyal hotel. Went over to PJ O'Briens the Irish pub for our traditional 'last supper pint and dinner'. Then up at 6am & over to check in for our flight. Thought we would try Qantas this time and all was going well until they call our name in the lounge right at boarding time - never a good thing! They said Graemes and my seats in bus.class had no entertainment systems, so would we mind flying the 14 1/2 hrs without them...ah yes! Apparently the plane was pretty full but they offered us 2 seats together elsewhere- except ones seat recline is broken so its jammed in the upright position. Do we mind, ah yes! lol, was a bit of a comedy of errors really, we ended up being separated for the first bit, then together in the broken seat. The A380 was surprisingly tired in the cabin, one of our tv's kept jamming & they ended up putting a plastic crate under the foot of one of our seats cos it kept falling on the ground. It was murphys law & that irish blood again haha but certainly not value for money this time.

Anyway, staff were nice & we landed fine at 6am, thru finger printing & border control no worries, despite so many planes in at the same time.  Finally found our shuttle & into Hollywood. The hotel we are staying in is about 100mtrs from the walk of fame, dolby theatre, the chinese theatre & a big shiny shopping mall. Thanks trip advisor - my best planning partner.
Great to have a whole apartment for the 3 of us while Danni is here. Really friendly staff who let us in early after wandering around for a couple of hours - accidentally finding the viewing area for the Hollwoood sign amongst all the rest Hollywood has to offer.

Mickey & Mickey

 Twilight movie stars footprints

My beloved Patrick Swayze

Danni showing what she thinks of Mr Trump- he is the hot topic of her uni politics classes too often!!

Later we went to a crepery - the food here is so fresh! Sussed out the tax and tipping, wandered round and got some shirts for the baseball game tomorrow night for the LA Dodgers, then came back &  had a 3 hour kip as we have been up 24 hours.

Got up later & went for a walk around again, got our bearings, then Graeme and I got ready to go out to a concert tonight - what a day lol! We went to Johnny Rockets diner for dinner, complete with sit up counter. Had our first american burgers- double meat patties double cheese, grease & shameful to say - absolutely delicious. The patties we so fresh and tender, put our burger joints to shame back home.

Graeme and I caught the metro to the Walt Disney Concert Hall - $8 return instead of $80 for a cab! Easy as & very similar to Melbournes metro. Had an icelandic beer to get in the mood for Sigur Ros who are on their opening night - playing with the philharmonic orchestra. Their conductor is also Icelandic. It was pretty surreal - especially when you had been up for as long as we had haha! They had a choir, then the orchestra with 2 conductors, then the orchestra with Sigur Ros then the band alone. Far out - are there any other words for surreal? Their music is very unusual, emotive and primal - it crescendoed into the last song that assaulted all the senses - it was like salt & vinegar, lemon and sugar, bright light strobes in the darkness all at the same time. Very cool and actually worth the scalping price you had to pay for tickets at the sold out concert.

Rode the subway home at midnight - some very weird & wonderful (or not so) characters around. Felt like the ghost that found Patrick Swayze in the movie 'Ghost', was going to come whizzing through the carriages, the sounds of the fast train were exactly the same as in the movie! Saw Pretty woman walking out on Wiltshire Boulevard, except it turned out to be pretty man at about 6" 3 lol.