TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2012: TAKING THE BUS

Day3: 
Time to venture further afield in LA.
We could have taken one of the numerous tour buses on offer but we thought it would be more fun to try to use public transport and tailor our own itinerary. The guy downstairs in Hotel Reception was great in explaining the way bus transfers work (i.e. how to use one ticket on a number of buses) and suggesting which buses to take.
LA buses and their drivers have a lot to teach their counter-parts in the UK. Buses are frequent, clean and readily accessible by wheelchairs. Drivers are polite and really helpful, taking time to offer advice and to give us tips on where to visit. Prices are a joy too: a transfer for 2 from Venice to Hollywood set us back a mere $2.80 and, when we cottoned on later to Senior Ticket prices, the return via Santa Monica was a total of $1.10!

HOLLYWOOD:
Despite popular conceptions of it being the epicentre of the film industry,there are no movie studios in Tinseltown, and the only stars seen there are on premier nights.
The Hollywood Sign: 
We took the bus to the corner of Hollywood and Vine and got the cameras out.
No trip to LA is complete without a picture of the Hollywood Sign.

Hollywood Walk of Fame:

This has to be one of the most recognisable parts of Hollywood, opened in 1968, the 3.5 miles of pavement with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars honouring real and fictional people who have contributed to the entertainment industry.

The Egyptian Theatre:

The first of the grandiose movie houses built in Hollywood proper, its Egyptian styling followed the trend for all-things-Egyptian after the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. The first movie it premiered was 'Robin Hood', the showing of the film being preceded by an elaborate live 'prologue' featuring real actors in costume on a stage before the screen! Imagine that at your local Cineworld.......

Grauman's Chinese Theatre:

Opened on May 18 1927 with the premiere of 'The King of Kings' and an eventual riot by the thousands of fans gathered outside. Its one screen and seats for over 1,000 are still regularly used for premieres.

Bras and push-up bras:

This building started life in 1927 as a department store opened by the man credited with inventing the bra, and a top-selling line was the world's 1st push-up bra. Been on sale for last 3 years: asking price $17.5m.

Gorgeous Art Deco:

BEVERLY HILLS:

On the bus again for some wealth-watching.

Although the truly rich don't live there, there's still oodles of money floating around in Beverly Hills.

Rodeo Drive:

Not sure quite what  we had been expecting, but, as Steve said, it served a purpose in giving the Uber Rich somewhere to go to keep them occupied! We didn't see any Beckhams, Rooneys or Versaces, or any women with pet kangaroos on a lead (as seen by a friend some years ago), but we did see Chanel, Miu Miu, Prada, Philippe Patek, YSL, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermes etc., etc. 

We were only window-shopping......but Steve wanted to dream.

Happy Anniversary to Shane and Sheila!!! Have a great time in Hong Kong, and give our love to Mark.