So of course, the first things are Hollywood and Beverley Hills. We programmed the Big Sign and Hollywood in to the GPS and off we went. Straight into heavy LA freeway traffic - but we're starting to get used to it. Keep up the speed when you can, make sure you know where you are going. The GPS really helps here.
Except that it doesn't know about recent changes. So we ended up finding our own way around Hollywood Hills looking for the Big Sign. We knew it was in Griffith Park, but with so many road closures we couldn't get near it. But we did get close enough for a photo.
Then down in to Hollywood itself and park the bike to go for a walk along the star-studded sidewalks. LA hasn't seen any rain for many months so everything is a little dusty. Nevertheless, we enjoyed walking along recognising a name here and there. Soon we came across Kodak Theatre, which, as well as a theatre, has become a shopping and eating mall, with its own nice view of the Big Sign. We spent a couple of hours here.
After munching into a single piece of the hugest pizza I have ever seen, we headed down Santa Monica Blvd to Rodeo Drive. Up and down the road a few times until we found a park, we then went for a short walk amongst these super exclusive shops. Not even bothering to go inside. Personally, I was much more at home at WingStuff, but it is good to sometimes have a look at another side of life.
That was about it for the day. By the time we battled the freeways full of peak traffic back to Redondo Beach, we'd had enough for the day. The evening meal was at a restaurant called Rockin' Baja Lobster, which served seafood in buckets and huge marguerites. Very different, and very nice.
That's all for now, except we did take a few pics today:
Easy to get lost in here |
and in here with twisty back roads on steep hillsides |
but we eventually found The Big Sign. I'm shown here performing The Picard Manoeuvre. |
Did he ride a motorcycle? |
Two famous bears |
Now he did ride a motorcycle |
Theatre and shopping mall |
We swapped cameras with a couple from Philadelphia |
The Big Sign from Kodak Theatre |
Charleen tried to tickle him. But he preferred a tip. |
One on a Harley, one on a Honda 1000 |
Now this is a yankee meal. |
HEY!!! |
Rodeo Drive is very neat and clean |
The Beverley Wiltshire Hotel |
Prada is so exclusive, they don't even bother to have their name on the store. |
Via Rodeo is a nice little lane with some big names in residence. Pity they couldn't afford the whole statue though...... |
Charleen and MMbear hang out at Rodeo and Wiltshire |
Then we contended with a freeway full of traffic to get 'home'. |