Would you believe I ended up going to Hollywood instead? The funny thing was, it was easier to get to Hollywood (around 12 miles) from my hotel than it was to get to Manhattan (around 3 miles). There was no direct transportation to Manhattan Beach, or any of the other places I mentioned previously, but I could get the Metro train into Los Angeles. I bought an all-day ticket and off I went.

I have to say I wasn’t all that impressed. I was even a little disappointed to be honest. It was as touristy as you can imagine, even to the point of claustrophic for me. I walked past the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre with the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside, where stars are honoured with a star on the “sidewalk”. The vendors were there selling their Maps to The Stars’ Houses. There were people dressed as movie characters which, for a price, you could have your picture taken with them, i.e. Princess Leia and a Stormtrooper from Star Wars, Homer Simpson, Marilyn Monroe, Edward Scissorhands, the list goes on. I got the impression these people were would-be actors getting by on other means. There were also people hawking their home-made CDs, I’m assuming in the hopes of being discovered. I’ve seen that happen back in London on a couple of occassions, now I know where they got the idea from.

I didn’t even take any pictures, that’s how unimpressed I was. I was actually more preoccupied with finding a shopping mall, the Beverly Center in West Hollywood which was my main reason for coming into downtown LA, which apparently, the Metro didn’t go as far as. So I hopped on what they call a Dash bus, where you can zip around downtown LA on 25cents. It’s a shame they don’t have something like that at home. It was limited on where they went but it did the job for me.

I got to see Sunset Blvd, which again, sorry to say, I really wasn’t that impressed with. Maybe I had other ideas on what it should’ve looked like based on what I’ve seen in the movies. But it was still a pleasant bus ride. Up on the hills in the distance you could see lovely big homes where I assume some of the stars lived. It was a great way of getting around town.

I found the Beverly Center, a massive great big mall over 3 floors with everything you could want under one roof. I did some “girly” shopping and some other shopping for family members, walked around just window shopping for another 45mins or so, then made my way home. I had left the hotel at 11am, and didn’t get back until nearly 7pm, so I was quite knackered. Plus I hadn’t stopped to eat anything all day so I was famished.

But it was a good day. I got to see more of LA and do some shopping into the bargain. Yesterday (Saturday) I had a couple of clients in the morning and afternoon so I spent the remainder of the day just chilling and browsing around the local shops here near El Segundo. I still felt knackered from the previous day. And don’t laugh, but I have a major thing for peanut butter. As far as I’m concerned they don’t make it the same as they do here, so I had to make sure and find me some peanut butter to bring back home. I only hope I don’t get stopped again and asked to open up my case. The last time I bought peanut butter home from a family trip to Florida, I was asked to open my bag at Orlando Airport, as they couldn’t identify the “solid mass” that was in the bag,lol.

Today, Easter Sunday, I’m up at 5am blogging, still on UK time I guess. I have packing to do. My flight doesn’t leave until later on this evening, so I might spend some time reading by the pool outside the hotel until it’s time for me to go.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Easter. Big chocolate kisses.xxx

Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Hollywood Walk of Fame