Got up bright and breezy and after breakfast in our room we headed out to explore.
We drove into Hollywood and after finding some extortionate parking, left our tin car, and headed onto the
Boulevard.
Sarb was somewhat unimpressed. Jo had been there before so knew how tacky the place was. Anyway, we did the usual ie. stare at some people's
concrete footprints (Sarb had to pay homage to his
fave actor) and stare at the Chinese theatre.
Tiring of all the tackiness we boarded the tin can and headed off following a map that promised to take us to all the main sights of the area.
Well we tried to follow the map. What we actually did was cut up loads of drivers, had a major argument, saw some gates beyond which apparently posh houses were sited, drove round some plush neighbourhoods and saw Henry Winklers (the Fonz) house.
Looking at our crap map we saw that
Mulholland Drive was nearby. The only thing that Sarb knew about this road is that it is mentioned in an REM song (Electrolite) so we decided to head on up it. Excellent views as we climbed up and looked over LA. Would look quite spectacular at night!
From here we drove round until we hit upon Griffith Park. Decided to stop here for a slurp of pop and some sarnies (we'd brought with us) sitting on some benches. Quite a peaceful place.
Studying the map we saw that an Observatory was atop of the park. Decided to wander on up to it. To say it was
hot would be an understatement.
We arrived at the top somewhat red in the face, passing a
famous sign or two, but a restorative pop or two soon had us feeling fine. The surrounding views were quite breathtaking (
[1],
[2],
[3] ).
Wandered into the quite excellent museum and were kept
happily amused for many an hour.
Afterwards we walked round the
immaculate forecourt of the Observatory before heading back down the dusty trail.
Headed back to the car and drove through quite heavy traffic back to the hotel. We relaxed for a while, then showered and changed up and headed off to an Italian restaurant in the nearby mall.
Jo had pasta that duly arrived. Sarb, starving, had ordered a pizza and when he caught the attention of our waitress and informed her that he was still waiting was told it had been burnt it so another one was in the offing.
Soon enough a pizza duly emerged and was demolished!