Sat 12 Jan - Los Angeles, CA

Another cool but fine day and we are booked on an 11.30 bus tour of star homes and some other sights. We were ready by 9ish so decided to walk to Hollywood and Highland from our hotel. On the way we finally found our first proper cups of coffee at Groundworks on Sunset. Hans sighed with satisfaction when a double shot latte came in a smallish cup and tasted very good. The place was popular with the locals including those of the Los Angeles Film School across the street.

Nearby we found evidence of the sad state of cheap American cuisine with these three stores... Doesn't exactly make you hungry, does it?

The Hollywood walk of fame starts at the corner of La Brea and Hollywood Boulevard and is marked with these statues and Rotunda. Elvis has his star here too and people put flowers on it (on the ground behind Hans, who is holding onto a statue of Mae West)

On the way to the tour starting point we found the Hollywood recruitment centre for the US armed services. I guess if you don't make it as an actor they offer another career option.

The Dolby theatre is the home of the Academy Awards (it used to be called the Kodak theatre). Inside we strolled up the grand main stairs, with columns showing the names of Best Picture for about the last 60 years. Di is doing her best to blend in celebrity style! HA not a chance...

Our tour started early - about 11.20 - in an open top bus with our driver/guide Bob. He was very chatty and works for tips (with recommended amounts shown on posters at the front of the bus, ranging from $10 to $20). First stop a vista point in the Hollywood hills, overlooking the Hollywood sign, the city and the Hollywood bowl (an 18,000 seat outdoor concert venue).

Downtown LA - I'm sure we could only see this far because its been windy and its a clear day.

During the tour Bob pointed out different buildings used in films such as Pretty Woman, Sister Act, the X-men and others. Then on to star homes. We saw Halle Berry's, Ozzie Osborne, Lindsay Lohan, Eddie Murphy,George Clooney the home of the late Frank Sinatra and late Lucille Ball. This one below belongs to the Brad and Angelina tribe.

The tour included sights along the Sunset Strip but in a bus doing 35mph so photos were impossible. We decided to wander the whole strip on foot after the tour. So we caught the metro bus back and walked a few miles so we could see all the important venues where comedians and some famous musicians made their debut - including the Whiskyagogo which is listed in the rock and roll hall of fame. Musicians who got their start here include Frank Zappa, Guns n Roses and Mötley Crüe.

Plastic surgery is big business here and we love the concept of "freeze the fat". The other important sight is the Hustler store (where they are Now Hiring but we arrived after the store closed so could not submit our applications).

Hustler shop has its own hand prints in cement (why hand prints?) outside its shop. Apparently the guy below is one of the most famous porn stars of all time - of course Hans would know! We liked a quote nearby which said "nobody has ever died from a overdose of pornography" which I think one of Hustler's lawyers said in their Supreme Court hearing. Larry Flynt's handprints were also there.

Then on to the Viper Room. Infamous for being the location of River Phoenix's death from an overdose right here on the sidewalk below (not footpath as Di now knows). Johnny Depp used to own the place, but sold it after River died.

The House of Blues is also famous and we thought the building was far more interesting that its neighbour, the Viper Room.

Around 3pm we thought it was time for a drink and this place, the Saddle Ranch Chop House, was recommended by Bob the tour bus driver and also seemed to be lively with a good crowd of locals enjoying drinks, massive plates of food and Saturday afternoon football (Gridiron).

We ordered beer and a mimosa, and a kettle of beef chilli, then more beer and mimosa and relaxed into the environment. Very nice. Perhaps a bit too much customer servicing with at least 5 different people asking us if "everything was ok?" Within the first 15 minutes.

The Saddle Ranch Chop House serves beer in a unique way called a tower. If you have a group the tower, which costs about $45, is approximate 4.5 liters of beer in a long cold tube with a tap at the bottom which is brought to your table. These seemed popular - we saw at least 3 towers being ordered.

They also serve a 2-3 foot high stack of fairy floss as a "dessert" to share. Again popular but perhaps not for us oldies with tooth cavities. The highlight was a mechanical bull "centre stage" and this girl was brave enough to ride it. Definitely deserved a cheer because she stayed on for at least 30 seconds.

Around 4.30pm we decided to find a bus on Sunset Boulevard and head towards home. Great afternoon weather but the temperature drops quickly (predicted to a minimum of 3 degrees C tonight). We got off a mile early to search for a local bar for a drink later but nothing inspired us sorry to say. It might be better in smaller towns and we are certainly looking forward to wine country next week!

A final shot from the Sunset Strip below, and no, we did not see one famous face or celebrity.

Posted with Blogsy