Kinky La Rue

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

I am actually here in Los Angeles now as I’ve been building up to for some time.

Last week I suffered what I would consider my first real death in the family. I’ve had distant relatives and people that my parents knew when they were kids pass away but this one was real family, my first real loss. So I spent last weekend coming to terms with it.

I even contemplated whether or I not I should still go to LA. But I pulled myself together, got my sh*t together and went. So I’m here. In between the quiet mourning, the jet lag, and seeing a couple of customers, I haven’t been able to sit down properly and blog since last week. So to those who enjoy my ramblings, my apologies for the erratic writing.

I was going to write something when I was at my hotel in Heathrow on Tuesday, until I was told that the internet was £16 for 24hrs, which I would only use for an hour at most. Yeahhh, I think not. I was a little ticked-off, because I did phone and ask beforehand what the cost would be, and I was told it was free. I should’ve known better really, shouldn’t I? After all, it is an airport hotel.

I haven’t had a chance to see much of LA yet. I’ve been to a couple of malls in El Segundo, not too far from LAX; had a wander around a lovely big grocery store called Whole Foods Market, (they pride themselves in providing nothing but healthy natural foods, there’s a couple in Central London now). I stopped at Borders (again, we have them in the UK too but if you’re unfamiliar with them, think Waterstone’s) and treated myself to a David Baldacci novel that was on sale for $3.99, reduced from $12.99, so I consider that to be a real bargain.

As lovely as Whole Foods Market was, it was a tad beyond my budget to do a whole shop, so I treated myself to a few things and stopped at another, much more reasonably-priced grocery store on the way back to get some juice and water etc. for myself and any thirsty customers I might have. My hotel room has a tiny little kitchenette with a fridge and a microwave, which was handy for the shopping I did.

Tomorrow I’m going to see if I can get to Manhattan Beach, which technically is a town but as implied does have its own beach. There are couple more to choose from if Manhattan Beach doesn’t work out, Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. They’re all coastal towns, but Manhattan Beach is closest to me here. I think I’ll ask at the front desk.

I was told by one of my favourite customers to try and pay a visit to Santa Monica if I could, so that may be another option. So little time and so much to see in between customers,lol.

I’m not driving (I was determined not to, as I do enough of it at home, plus, I wanted to enjoy a glass of wine or two without worrying). Considering I’m not in the heart of the city, the public transportation here isn’t too bad.

Wish me luck.x

…..I would love to hear from you for some advice on where to stay. Either that or anybody that has stayed in the LA area before.

My flights and hotel accommodation are already booked for my tour in April, but it’s been one of those lazy net-surfing days and I’ve found a great deal at one of the hotels in the downtown area. It costs less than where I’m already booked, and it’s half the price of booking through their own website. Without giving too much away, it’s a big, gorgeous, very posh-looking hotel in the downtown area as I say. By its surrounding description it has easy access to the freeways which I know is very important as everybody drives in Los Angeles.

I’m really really tempted to book it, it’s absolutely gawwwjuss! I thought it was beyond my budget until I found the hotel on Netflights.com. What I like most about it, apart from it looking wonderful, is that it’s massive, allowing for discretion and anonymity.  My original hotel is nowhere near as big.

My question to Los Angelians is, what is the parking like in the downtown area? Is it crap like here in Central London? Is it congested? If you were a customer would you mind coming to visit me in the downtown area?  Or do people make the sign of the cross and say a quick prayer everytime they have to tackle the Los Angeles traffic. I’ve read and heard that it can be quite a nightmare.

Should I take the special offer of the posh hotel in downtown LA, or stay nearby the LAX area where I’m already booked? Please let me know what your thoughts are.

Many thanks.xx

Isn’t it funny. Nobody in the UK wrote and gave any ideas about where to visit. I won’t take it personally *sticks out tongue*. And no P, asking me to “stay in London” does not count,lol.

I received emails from a couple of gents in the States, including a request to come to Philidelphia, but to be honest I’m not sure how that tour would go. New York was also mentioned, but I’ve done that before. Besides, it’s very expensive, especially with us Brits with the weak pound at the moment. And I wanted somewhere new.

So I had a chat with mate Sarah Jane and because she’s been before and can recommend it, I’ve decided I’m coming to Los Angeles. It’s a lot cheaper than New York too.

I’ve been to Northen California, San Francisco to be exact, for a break a few years ago and I loved it, but I’ve never been to LA. And I’m kind of drawn to the warm weather. Do you blame me, after the UK suffering a month of freezing temperatures over Christmas and New Year?

I’m quite excited now that I’m planning it. I’ve done a bit of research and I’ve already made reservations at a hotel that looks good. I always read Trip Advisor for objective traveller advice (for work and for play) and it hasn’t let me down yet.

What a difference two years make. When I stayed in NY for five nights in 2007, it was about $1.80 something to the £. It cost me $1300, which at the time was about £700. Now $1300 is about £900, and I can only get four nights for that. I must admit that was a major factor in my decision-making. Although it’ll cost around £100 more in air fare, LA hotels are much cheaper, basically half that of a decent hotel in NY. Plus the hotels are becoming less and less discreet and client-friendly now. The hotel where I stayed at before was one of the few in NY that didn’t require keycards for lifts or doormen demanding to see your room key. Now from what I’ve read on Trip Advisor, that’s now changed. I do understand and appreciate that since 9/11 things haven’t been the same. But it is becoming increasingly difficult finding a client-friendly hotel now.

Things seem to be more laid-back in LA, and I haven’t read of any such stringent conditions to have to adhere to with a lot of the hotels I researched. But then again, they didn’t suffer the horrors of 9/11.

Anyways, I’m rambling. So, Los Angeles it is then, for a few days near Easter time. I’ve written a dedicated page for my site and it’ll go up in the next day or so. So for those who’re interested, please feel free to have a peruse at your leisure then drop me a line. And I hope to be making your acquaintance very soon.

*Air kisses on both cheeks.*