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Thursday, October 18th, 2007


Los Angeles 001

Originally uploaded by roupiesontour

Tuesday- chilling out day today. We went out to Venice Beach to get some of that SoCal vibe. How can you describe it? It has miles of sandy beaches with hardly anyone sunbathing and just a handful of surfers catching the waves.Palm trees line the beach walk and tehre is a line of small shops/stands by the seafront. I must have seen about 30 homeless people – most just sleeping by the beach in sleeping bags.

VB is like a mecca for the weird and wonderful. There are lots of tie dye stalls, palm readings and the generally obscure. The funniest moment was seeing a small white fluffy dog (complete with tie dye tee shirt and sunglasses) being sniffed by a dog the size of a great dane – the owner of the white dog dragged her away and was last seen telling her off in a very stern voice about her bad behaviour. We all found it very hard to keep our laughs in.

Yesterday we pushed the boat out and decided against the theme parks but went for a movie studio tour instead. We picked Warner Bros – which turned out to be the most difficult to get to (we were very late) but it was brilliant. You get taken in a golf buggy thing round the back and front lots. There was only 1 other family with us, when the Dad asked the tour guide if he had found Jesus in his life yet I knew it was going to be a fun day – we saw so much………..

Original cars like Batmobile and Scooby Van
Soundsatge where they filmed Casablanca
The Friends set (so now we have seen the outside in NY and inside in LA!). We looked through the front door of Monica’s apartment and touched the couch in Central Perk – felt very surreal.
Got “sorted” by the original Harry Potter hat and saw loads of props from the film, costumes, wands, spiders, maps -so much
The original Wonder Woman costume

We saw the filming of an ER scene – outside the hospital bay. The Heliport is a car park in the lot! They were also filming a Terminator series – apparently there is also going to be a T4 too.

It was a 2 hour tour and we were all completely starstruck – seeing the sets, props and history was brilliant – we all loved it and I would recommend it to anyone. You have to lock your cameras away so did not get to take so many photos.

We arrived back at the hotel late – my fault. We had 2 amicable drunk homeless men on the bus who were entertaining us. I gave them our day bus passes before we tried to get off so they could use them for the rest of the night. Pressed the button to get off and it was only then that I discovered (as we saw our stop go sailing past) that we were on a rapid bus that only stopped at the main stops. Dilemna – do I ask for our passes back?? I am too British – we slid off at the next stop and paid to take the bus back in the opposite direction! There mus be a lesson in there somewhere.

Leaving the mainland tomorrow – Hawaii here we come!

Your Own Personal Jesus

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007


Lifeguard Hut Santa Monica

Originally uploaded by roupiesontour

You can tell a lot about the people in a town by the way they drive. LA’s roads are chaotic, very fast and on the 5 lane freeways there is no fast or slow lane – everyone weaves in and out of the traffic as they please – so no rules either. There are a lot of older less expensive cars on the road here too. Hmmm should be fun!

I have decided to give the car back early so we can save a bit of money by using public transport. It was a pull saying goodbye to our trusty white steed – after 4653 miles it had done us proud.

The buses here are only 75c and I don’t think I have ever encountered such a concentration of weirdos, freaks and hustlers in one place. Don’t get me wrong I have never felt in danger but we have had….
the religious singing guy
the blind guy with his funny hustling story
the skateboard dude (about 70)
the guy who hit on 3 different women on our 1 journey (it was soo funny)
Mr polyester combover (should have been in Vegas)

Quite a slice of society. Yesterday we went up to Santa Monica pier. I couldn’t resist having a paddle in the ocean – just to complete the whole coast to coast feeling. It felt great – first stage completed. The whole beach/ pier vibe was great – really chilled. There were lots of entertainers, jugglers, r&b singers oh and Jesus was there dancing and singing away too.

 Jesus On The Pier

The boardwalk stretches for miles and people were jogging, roller blading, cycling and skateboarding along, yes most were posing but it was still nice to chill out and watch the world go by.

 Santa Monica Pier  Santa Monica  Proof Of Coast To Coast

 

Today we did the touristy Hollywood bits. All I can say is that Hollywood really is a dive – the walk of fame goes on forever over both sides of Hollywood Boulevard so it was fun trying to look at all the stars’ names but I just did not like it. Of all the place I have been this has to be the least popular…………We are going to try another of the beaches tomorrow to see if that manages to change our mind.
   Johnny Depp Feet

Las Vegas 2

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
Ghost Town Calico Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
OK - so it's been a while since I wrote anything but hey we ... [Continue reading this entry]

Las Vegas Baby!

Thursday, October 11th, 2007
Las Vegas 033 Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
Wednesday October 10th Everything is bigger and better in Las Vegas It is the strangest, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Lazin On A Sunday Afternoon

Monday, October 8th, 2007
Grand Canyon 2 Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
The past couple of days have been full of surprises. Yesterday we drove through Flagstaff ... [Continue reading this entry]

Twister – Strike A Pose

Saturday, October 6th, 2007
  four corners 009Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
We were woken up very early this morning by the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Close Encounters Of The Husky Kind

Friday, October 5th, 2007
  Sand Dunes 3Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 4th – Thursday Was up far too late on the ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Sands Of Time

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007
  Bishops Castle 3Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 3rd – Wednesday I am writing this with a spectacular ... [Continue reading this entry]

Pikes Peak Poses Proudly Over The Pines

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007
Colorado Springs 4 Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 2nd – Tuesday After a fretful night – the motel was busy and noisy ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Shining

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007
Rocky Mountains 1 Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 1st – Monday I committed a sin and did not do my diary yesterday. ... [Continue reading this entry]