Doing the LA thing

Paramount Studio
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So..... Basically LA was all about doing the tourist thing. We arrived at the hostel after 19hrs of travel and tried to stay up but could only manage until 9pm!

Next morning we went on an 'LA Tour' which the hostel organises for $45. for that you get a 6hr mini bus tour. As there is quite a lot to see you basically get 20 min stop offs at the famous locations to take your pics and if there is time - stuff a sandwich down your neck!it was a good way to see LA. to do it in your own time would take ages but this way we were able to see it all and go back to anywhere we liked on our own.

Diagnosis Murder legend: Mr Dick Van Dyke

Legend!
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So the tour went like this:

• 1st we drove to look at the gates of the big studios, Paramount and MGM etc... i wasn't to bothered with this really but its nice to see where all the magic happens!
• Next was the walk of fame. Here i was able to get a picture of my personal heros star.....thats right - Diagnosis Murder legend, Mr Dick Van Dyke!oh yes!! couldn't find barry van dyke, maybe he isn't famous enough! (you are in my eyes barry)
• The we went to look at the stars houses. actually you can see hardly anything. so its really - stars front hedges and trees which are all very nice and well looked after. i think they must be watered regularly! I did however see the house use in 'the fresh price' - Cool!
• Next we went to the Hood! Our driver who was a 43 year old white guy, told us that he and only he had been given the 'all clear' to drive through inglewood and south central (these names might only mean something to jimmy!)! I don't know how much i believed him as i think he tended to bend the truth a little especially when telling us stories about his famous people encounters! So with my spidey sense on full alert we drove to the ghetto!It was exactly like the films and the pic with the tall palm trees is the street out of 'boyz in tho hood'!
  

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  Round the corner there was a gang of lads probably about 18 years old. the driver kind of knew a couple so we stopped to say 'Yo' (i passed on your regards jimmy). I wasn't that comfortable to be honest, most were pretty cool and were interested where we came from but a few were questioning why we wanted to come and look at 'poor folk' and understandable didn't really like being looked at on a tour! so we shuffled towards the van and went on our way!

• next was Venice beach which was cool.nice wide and very long white sandy beach with cool shops along the front. We went back for whole of the next day do some bathing and swimming.
• Then the Hollywood sign. Pretty much a dusty hill.cant get very close anymore so didn't really hang around - just got the pics 
• Lastly we drove through downtown LA for a few pics of tall buildings!

In west philadelphia born and raised!
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So that was it - good cheap way to see what LA has to offer!

The rest of the time in LA was spent walking about. Sunset strip to get the picture for jen of the Viper room (jonny deps club),  melrose for the shopping, santa monica pier etc....

Didn't spot any famous people which was disappointing but at least i got my dick van dyke picture - so i'm happy!

anyway - time is running out in the internet cafe. Catch you laters XX