Arrival in LA
By Wanda on Feb 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, USA
Landing in LA this time is so much different from the last time, when we were on our way to New York. The flight from Hawaii is of course a domestic flight within the US so as we had already been through customs we did not have to repeat the process.
LA airport is not very user friendly. We collected our bags and made our way outside to find a shuttle bus. This proved to be somewhat challenging as the signage is almost non-existant, but we finally found where the shuttle buses leave from and had a short wait for the shuttle to arrive. The charge to Hollywood was $15.00 per person plus the customary $1.00 per bag tip.
The drive from the airport to Hollywood took over 1 1/2 hours. The driver and one of the other passengers had a heated discussion as to whether or not she was on the right bus and then we went to the wrong address. Paula told me not to expect too much of the hotel as it is only a 2 star, but when we arrive we were pleasantly surprised. The hotel is the “Hollywood Celebrity Hotel” in Orchid Ave just behind Graumans Chinese Theatre.
Check in was quick and easy and the room has 2 queen sized beds in a large room with a walk in robe and a kitchen. So we have everything we need, on hand, including tea and coffee provided just outside the door. Breakfast is also included in the price of the room.
We do the customary and drop off our bags and then head out to survey the surroundings.
We head around the corner not knowing where we are actually going as we haven’t picked up a map, and we happen across Hollywood and Highland. There are lots of people taking photographs so we head off up the stairs to see what the big attraction is - and there high on the hill in the distance is the HOLLYWOOD sign.
So we join all the rest of the tourists and take the opportunity to photograph the sign and surrounding area.
We take a quick look around the Hollywood and Highlands centre, just to get our bearings before heading down to Hollywood Boulevarde.
The first place we come to is Graumann’s Chinese Theatre so we stop to check out the stars signatures, footprints and handprints. It’s is a lot of fun mingling with everyone else checking out our favourite film stars as well as stars from the past such as Ethel Merman, Shirley Temple, Rock Hudson and Clarke Gable etc. We then wandered out to the street and found that most of the main street is blocked off as they are setting up for the 80th Oscars on the 24th Feb. We of course will be in Las Vegas on that day but it was interesting seeing everything being set up for the event.
By now the time was getting on and we were feeling a bit peckish. There are so many places to eat and we settled on “Johnny Rocket’s” hamburger bar. Excellent atmosphere and the food is reasonably priced and just fantastic. To start with I had a Hersey’s chocolate shake and Paula had a Strawberry shake, this was followed by a Double Cheese and Bacon burger and Route 66 hamburger with a side serve of fries and deep fried onions. The resulting meal was very tasty and filling.
Then it was back to the hotel. We have been up since 5am this morning and after a 5 hour flight and a 1 1/2 hour drive around LA we are ready for an early night.
