Hooray for Hollywood.... not!

Well, today was “different”. Hollywood was nothing like any of us ever imagined. The area where the “walk of stars” and the movie stars’ hand and footprints are, is actually quite grotty. There are hawkers everywhere trying to sell you stuff and people dressed up as characters from movies wanting money for a photo with them. It was good to say we have been there, but I have no desire to ever return. Half an hour was more than enough.

Next stop was the Farmers’ Market where we stopped for lunch. On the way, we drove past Beverly Hills, but not into the restricted area where the stars live. It was this area that really illustrated the gulf between the rich and the poor. Multi-million dollar homes, but in the parks, homeless people sleeping on park benches and carting around all their worldly possessions in a few plastic shopping bags.

We then stopped at Santa Monica Beach and Pier. This was really beautiful. We actually saw Pink, but didn’t realise it until we got back on the bus and others told us that she was in the photograph we had taken.

Final stop was Venice Beach. What an experience!! Tshirts galore. I was amazed by those with enough ego to pump iron in full view of everyone at Muscle Beach. Little stalls were set up all along the boardwalk with all kinds of goods for sale. (Max - Madeleine and I both said we could imagine you here with your straw hat on cruising along on a set of rollerblades).

We had planned to go to Universal Studios tomorrow, but due to transportation hiccups, we’re going to Seaworld at San Diego instead.