A full day tour of the "City of Angels" in a private stretch limousine was on the agenda for today, so up early. The 8-seat,35-ft piece of decadent machinery arrived promptly @ 8.45am & 20 minutes later we were at our first stop; Santa Monica's "3rd St Promenade" pedestrian mall with its wacky street performers & impressive selection of shops & restaurants. A stroll down this tourist strip with some shopping consumed about half an hour & then it was onto the zaniness of "Venice Beach".
"Venice Beach" is renowned for it's crazy personalities, ranging from wannabe Schwarzeneggers @ "Muscle Beach - the fenced off gym right on the beach, speedo-clad shot putters patrolling the zone offering themselves as photo-opportunities & even roller-skating Sikh minstrels - Truly a human zoo & as they say "Only in LA".
The venerable "Santa Monica Pier", where diversions included a historic carousel & a solar powered Ferris-Wheel, was the next sight where the "big" car stopped. A quick stop @ a liqueur shop was needed for the rest of the days journey & then it was onto the "Westwood Memorial Park".
This is the final resting place for many actors, including Marilyn Monroe, Bob Crane (Colonial Hogan from "Hogan's Heroes"), Roger Dangerfield & even Don Knotts. A beautiful oasis within the heart of this thriving metropolis.
We then travelled down "Sunset Strip" for another look @ this infamous section of LA & then it was onto Hollywood & the legendary "Hollywood" Boulevard. We stopped near "Grauman's Chinese Theatre", famous for its forecourt where screen legends have left their imprint in cement; feet, hands & even a nose...
Lunch was consumed @ "Shelly Cafe", where some of Clint Eastwood's film, "Million Dollar Baby" was filmed. Then it was along the "Hollywood Walk of Fame", which honours more than 2000 celebrities with brass stars embedded in the side-walk. Great photo opportunities.
Then it was into the "Hollywood & Highland" mall & up the stairs to the top which offered great views of the famous "Hollywood" Sign. A trip up to the "Hollywood Vista Point" provided a magnificent view back over LA & the "Hollywood Bowl" & then back to the famous Hollywood sign.
The day trip concluded with an hour of viewing the star's homes, or at least their high fences & gates!!! - The Playboy Mansion being the highlight. Back to the hotel by 5pm where we briefly refreshed & headed out to a very nice Chinese restaurant.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Day 11 - 22/03/07: Los Angeles
Today was Disneyland - Back to being a kid. Picked up @ 8.45am & by 10a.15am were inside "The Happiest Place On Earth" on a beautiful Spring Day.
Carved out of the orange groves of rural Anaheim, in Orange County,it represents the pinnacle of a global, often controversial media corporation. What amusements parks call "rides", Disneyland calls "attractions". A ride is a quick thrill, but an "attraction" is a journey into a narrative. Disneyland's real point of difference lies in its meticulous eye for detail.
After catching the courtesy train we entered the resort on "main Street", a recreation of Walt's hometown of Marcelline, Missouri, c 1900. Frontierland's "Big Thunder Mountain Roller coaster which careers through an old west mining town was the first ride of the day. This was followed by the thrilling "Indian Jones" ride in Adventure land. Fantasyland's "It's A small World" animatronics soon followed (so sweet & innocent it gave me a cavity...)
A very, very ordinary burger attempted to pass itself off as lunch. A quick visit to "Mickey's Toontown was next to be ticked off the list. One big disappointment was that a couple of the better rides were unavailable - Tommorowland's "Space Mountain" & "Splash Mountain".
The day ended with a drink in "Downtown Disney", a pedestrian mall jam-packed with high-concept eateries, shops & entertainment venues. Bus picked us up @ 6.30pm @ had us back to our hotel an hour later, where we met up with Stu & Simone & ended out to dinner @ "Il Fornaio", a trattoria-style favourite restaurant of the Beverley Hills locals. Lovely meal & consistent service made it another experience to savor.
Carved out of the orange groves of rural Anaheim, in Orange County,it represents the pinnacle of a global, often controversial media corporation. What amusements parks call "rides", Disneyland calls "attractions". A ride is a quick thrill, but an "attraction" is a journey into a narrative. Disneyland's real point of difference lies in its meticulous eye for detail.
After catching the courtesy train we entered the resort on "main Street", a recreation of Walt's hometown of Marcelline, Missouri, c 1900. Frontierland's "Big Thunder Mountain Roller coaster which careers through an old west mining town was the first ride of the day. This was followed by the thrilling "Indian Jones" ride in Adventure land. Fantasyland's "It's A small World" animatronics soon followed (so sweet & innocent it gave me a cavity...)
A very, very ordinary burger attempted to pass itself off as lunch. A quick visit to "Mickey's Toontown was next to be ticked off the list. One big disappointment was that a couple of the better rides were unavailable - Tommorowland's "Space Mountain" & "Splash Mountain".
The day ended with a drink in "Downtown Disney", a pedestrian mall jam-packed with high-concept eateries, shops & entertainment venues. Bus picked us up @ 6.30pm @ had us back to our hotel an hour later, where we met up with Stu & Simone & ended out to dinner @ "Il Fornaio", a trattoria-style favourite restaurant of the Beverley Hills locals. Lovely meal & consistent service made it another experience to savor.
Day 10 - 21/03/07: Los Angeles
Today was a relatively free day, where for the morning the girls headed out to get nails done, whilst Matt & I were left to our own devises - Always dangerous in LA!!!
So Matt & I headed off to "Rodeo Drive"; a 3-block ribbon of style for the Prada & Gucci brigade, then when our thirst got the better of us be descended on the "Beverly Wilshire" Hotel - as seen in "Pretty Woman" with Julia Roberts, for a beer & a Cuban Cigar (picked these little puppies up in Mexico, where they aren't banned). We enjoyed watching the beautiful people & cars promenade down "Wilshire Blvd - Yes I(know that it's a tough life, but someone...
We then met up with the girls for lunch @ "Spago", Wolfgang Puck's flagship emporium, which has long been tops for celebrity spotting & fancy eating (no stars today - just a lot of "suits" cementing deals) - Highlight, apart from the food was meeting the man himself - Wolfgang Puck - who came to our table to introduce himself & have a picture taken.
After lunch Matt & I had the taxi drop us in West Hollywood (WeHo)on the infamous "Sunset Strip" - First stop was the "Whisky A Go Go", a music institution since 1964, then the all black "Viper Room", scene of River Phoenix's death, followed by a beer @ the Bar with LA attitude "Red Rocks". The "Comedy Store" was our next photo opportunity, closely followed by the rusting corrugated iron of "The House Of Blues".
The final destination was "Chateau Marmont", where practically every celluloid luminary from Garbo to Paltrow has enjoyed breakfast/drinks in the lobby bar or trysted in a back bungalow (where "Blues Brothers" John Balushi did his final & fatal "speed-ball").
Whilst enjoying a cold beer we spotted our first "celebrity" - Fran Dressner (nanny Fine from the hit sitcom "The Nanny"). No photos were taken as this place has a "no photos policy to protect the guily...
After doing the "sunset strip" tour, we mey up with the girls again @ the "Bev. Wilshire" for more drinks & then headed to a great Mexican restaurant for dinner & then crashed that night from alcohol poisoning...
So Matt & I headed off to "Rodeo Drive"; a 3-block ribbon of style for the Prada & Gucci brigade, then when our thirst got the better of us be descended on the "Beverly Wilshire" Hotel - as seen in "Pretty Woman" with Julia Roberts, for a beer & a Cuban Cigar (picked these little puppies up in Mexico, where they aren't banned). We enjoyed watching the beautiful people & cars promenade down "Wilshire Blvd - Yes I(know that it's a tough life, but someone...
We then met up with the girls for lunch @ "Spago", Wolfgang Puck's flagship emporium, which has long been tops for celebrity spotting & fancy eating (no stars today - just a lot of "suits" cementing deals) - Highlight, apart from the food was meeting the man himself - Wolfgang Puck - who came to our table to introduce himself & have a picture taken.
After lunch Matt & I had the taxi drop us in West Hollywood (WeHo)on the infamous "Sunset Strip" - First stop was the "Whisky A Go Go", a music institution since 1964, then the all black "Viper Room", scene of River Phoenix's death, followed by a beer @ the Bar with LA attitude "Red Rocks". The "Comedy Store" was our next photo opportunity, closely followed by the rusting corrugated iron of "The House Of Blues".
The final destination was "Chateau Marmont", where practically every celluloid luminary from Garbo to Paltrow has enjoyed breakfast/drinks in the lobby bar or trysted in a back bungalow (where "Blues Brothers" John Balushi did his final & fatal "speed-ball").
Whilst enjoying a cold beer we spotted our first "celebrity" - Fran Dressner (nanny Fine from the hit sitcom "The Nanny"). No photos were taken as this place has a "no photos policy to protect the guily...
After doing the "sunset strip" tour, we mey up with the girls again @ the "Bev. Wilshire" for more drinks & then headed to a great Mexican restaurant for dinner & then crashed that night from alcohol poisoning...
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Day 9 - 20/03/07: San Diego - Los Angeles
No hurry to leave SD as our only plan was to travel uo to LA for 6 nights, so after a late breakfast, the girls headed to Macy's & I headed down to the North Embarcadero to view the "Maritime Museum".
In town was a cruise liner the 'Monarch Of the Sea", which was moored along side a vast selection of historical ships, including the "Star of India", HMS Surprise (used in the Russell Crow movie "Master & Commander". There was also the Schooner "California", that patrolled the coast during the Gold-Rush". "Medea", a 1904 Steam Yacht, "Berkeley", built in 1898 to carry passengers across San Francisco Bay. I must also mention that the "US Midway" is now located here, as is a Russian Submarine, the B-39, used during the Cold-War.
Met up with the others @ 1pm & soon after were on our way to LA. The drive was thankfully uneventful & after battling with the LA Freeway traffic for almost an hour (in which we probably did 15 miles, we arrived @ our hotel, the famous "Beverley Hilton", an institution since 1955, but recently given a glamorous $60m renovation.
AS we all know the "Golden Globes" are held here each year, but @ this stage no "stars" have been seen yet, even in their very cosmopolitan "Lobby Bar". Matt & Jules turned up an hour later and after the cars were returned to Hertz, we had a round of drinks & then headed out for dinner.
"Mako" was the chosen location on South Beverley Drive, which offered a fusion of Asian flavours known as "Californian Cuisine" - Both the food & service was top notch in this minimalist-chic Beverley Hills eatery.
In town was a cruise liner the 'Monarch Of the Sea", which was moored along side a vast selection of historical ships, including the "Star of India", HMS Surprise (used in the Russell Crow movie "Master & Commander". There was also the Schooner "California", that patrolled the coast during the Gold-Rush". "Medea", a 1904 Steam Yacht, "Berkeley", built in 1898 to carry passengers across San Francisco Bay. I must also mention that the "US Midway" is now located here, as is a Russian Submarine, the B-39, used during the Cold-War.
Met up with the others @ 1pm & soon after were on our way to LA. The drive was thankfully uneventful & after battling with the LA Freeway traffic for almost an hour (in which we probably did 15 miles, we arrived @ our hotel, the famous "Beverley Hilton", an institution since 1955, but recently given a glamorous $60m renovation.
AS we all know the "Golden Globes" are held here each year, but @ this stage no "stars" have been seen yet, even in their very cosmopolitan "Lobby Bar". Matt & Jules turned up an hour later and after the cars were returned to Hertz, we had a round of drinks & then headed out for dinner.
"Mako" was the chosen location on South Beverley Drive, which offered a fusion of Asian flavours known as "Californian Cuisine" - Both the food & service was top notch in this minimalist-chic Beverley Hills eatery.
Day 8 - 19/03/07: San Diego
Tour of San Diego today (read someone else doing the driving)"The San Diego Grand Tour" was the one selected because it covered everything in one long day.
It began with a "city tour", which covered SD vibrant downtown, the "Gaslamp Quarter" with its old-world buildings, the Embarcadero with wonderful harbour views. A look @ the many navy ships in port (including the mighty US Midway, now a museum) & one of the oldest merchant ships in the world.
"Old Town", California's birthplace (pit-stop for a frozen Margarita - no salt), balboa park, an urban oasis brimming with 13 world-class museums, gorgeous gardens & architecture, performance spaces & of course their famous Zoo.
La Jolla (pronounced La Holla) (Jewel of the Pacific), a charming seaside village with many upscale shops & eateries & finished with a visit to the historic landmark "Hotel Del Cornado" completed in 1888 & with a guest book that includes Edison & Monroe. Next up on our tour was a 1-hr harbour cruise on the north side of the harbour which took in the following highlights:
* Coast guard air station
* 1863 Star of India - World's oldest active sailing ship.
* World famous Hotel Del Coronado
* Best view of SD renowned skyline
* SPAWAR - The NAVY's Marine Mammal Training Unit
* Fort Rosecran's National Cemetery
* Point Loma Light House
* North Island Naval Air Station
Then it was off to Tijuana, the place where Rita Haywoirth & Carlos Santana were discovered, as well as the "Caesar Salad". Avenida Revolucion (La Revo), the main tourist strip & only 15 minutes walk from the border was where we spent our time. This included lunch and numerous drinks along this pretty tacky & seedy street.
Back on the bus by 5.30pm and after passing through US border patrol we were soon back in SD - A quick stop @ the "Kansas City BBQ" where some of "Top Gun" was filmed - "The Bar with an Attitude". Dinner was again in the "Gaslamp District" @ "Sadaf" (Persian). Very, very enjoyable.
It began with a "city tour", which covered SD vibrant downtown, the "Gaslamp Quarter" with its old-world buildings, the Embarcadero with wonderful harbour views. A look @ the many navy ships in port (including the mighty US Midway, now a museum) & one of the oldest merchant ships in the world.
"Old Town", California's birthplace (pit-stop for a frozen Margarita - no salt), balboa park, an urban oasis brimming with 13 world-class museums, gorgeous gardens & architecture, performance spaces & of course their famous Zoo.
La Jolla (pronounced La Holla) (Jewel of the Pacific), a charming seaside village with many upscale shops & eateries & finished with a visit to the historic landmark "Hotel Del Cornado" completed in 1888 & with a guest book that includes Edison & Monroe. Next up on our tour was a 1-hr harbour cruise on the north side of the harbour which took in the following highlights:
* Coast guard air station
* 1863 Star of India - World's oldest active sailing ship.
* World famous Hotel Del Coronado
* Best view of SD renowned skyline
* SPAWAR - The NAVY's Marine Mammal Training Unit
* Fort Rosecran's National Cemetery
* Point Loma Light House
* North Island Naval Air Station
Then it was off to Tijuana, the place where Rita Haywoirth & Carlos Santana were discovered, as well as the "Caesar Salad". Avenida Revolucion (La Revo), the main tourist strip & only 15 minutes walk from the border was where we spent our time. This included lunch and numerous drinks along this pretty tacky & seedy street.
Back on the bus by 5.30pm and after passing through US border patrol we were soon back in SD - A quick stop @ the "Kansas City BBQ" where some of "Top Gun" was filmed - "The Bar with an Attitude". Dinner was again in the "Gaslamp District" @ "Sadaf" (Persian). Very, very enjoyable.
Day 7 - 18/03/07: Santa Barbara - San Diego
Second last of the driving days, so up fairly early & on the road by 9am. Weather still overcast, but no rain so was good driving conditions. The major attraction in Santa Barbara istheir "Mission" (Spanish Church)- Some history: When the Spanish came to a suitable location for a town, they built the "Presidio" (Fort), the Mission" (Church) & then the Village, in that order, so the Mission is considered very important.
The Mission of Santa Barbara was built in 1786 by Padre Junipero Serra & is nicknamed "Queen Of The Missions" & that she is. About the Missions - There are 21 that start in San Diego (Cambria) & go all the way north to Monterey & are a days ride apart. Thhey are linked by "The Royal Road - Modern US Highway 101" - A vivid reminder of the history of this turbulant, multi-cultural country.
Out of Santa Barbara we turned the car south & headed towards Los Angeles to pick up Cousin Wendy who was flying in today (so 4 in the car). As we came into greater LA we pased through famous suburbs like "Huntington Beach" & "Laguna Beach" - Lots of beautiful people & cars.
Picked up Wendy & made our way to San Diego, passing through Orange County (The OC), that giant slab of spoilt suburbia wedged between LA & San Diego - Malls & beaches - the panacea to all problems in this part of the world.
Actually getting into SD should have been easy, but with no map it wasn't, so after many wrong turns onto incorrect Freeways, we eventually found our way thanks to the assistance of a local, arriving @ our hotel, the very, very impressive "US Grant" around 5pm.
The US Grant is a SD landmark in luxury since 1910 (potentially the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in, although my bed @ home is pretty damn good). Met up with Mat & Jules who also drove down from Santa Barbara today & went out for dinner in the beautifully restored "Gaslamp District" on the once notorious 5th Ave, for a very enjoyable meal @ "La Festa" (Mexican) - Slept very well that night.
The Mission of Santa Barbara was built in 1786 by Padre Junipero Serra & is nicknamed "Queen Of The Missions" & that she is. About the Missions - There are 21 that start in San Diego (Cambria) & go all the way north to Monterey & are a days ride apart. Thhey are linked by "The Royal Road - Modern US Highway 101" - A vivid reminder of the history of this turbulant, multi-cultural country.
Out of Santa Barbara we turned the car south & headed towards Los Angeles to pick up Cousin Wendy who was flying in today (so 4 in the car). As we came into greater LA we pased through famous suburbs like "Huntington Beach" & "Laguna Beach" - Lots of beautiful people & cars.
Picked up Wendy & made our way to San Diego, passing through Orange County (The OC), that giant slab of spoilt suburbia wedged between LA & San Diego - Malls & beaches - the panacea to all problems in this part of the world.
Actually getting into SD should have been easy, but with no map it wasn't, so after many wrong turns onto incorrect Freeways, we eventually found our way thanks to the assistance of a local, arriving @ our hotel, the very, very impressive "US Grant" around 5pm.
The US Grant is a SD landmark in luxury since 1910 (potentially the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in, although my bed @ home is pretty damn good). Met up with Mat & Jules who also drove down from Santa Barbara today & went out for dinner in the beautifully restored "Gaslamp District" on the once notorious 5th Ave, for a very enjoyable meal @ "La Festa" (Mexican) - Slept very well that night.
Day 6 - 17/03/07: Monterey - Santa Barbara
Hi, I'm back after a couple of weeks of eating & drinking up & down the West Coast of the mighty USA.
So now where were we...still in Monteray if my memory serves me well.
*************************************************************************************
Awoke early as today was another long driving day with "Big Sur" being the first spectacle to experience - Big Sur or if translated from Spanish, "The Big South" is a 90-odd mile stretch between Cambria in the south of California & the Monterey Peninsula in the north. The coastline here is an awe-inspiring symphony of nature & at times the road (Hwy 1) seems to clutch @ the cliffs as if in desperation above a ravenous sea.
Highlights along this famous stretch of road included the stunning Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park & amazing Bixby Bridge built in 1932. The major stop was @ "Heart Castle", but before that we were lucky enough to catch a Seal-Lion colony resting on the beach a few miles north of "Hearst Castle".
"Hearst Castle" overlooks the pacific & is probably California's most famous monument to wealth & ambition. As we arrived @ the visitor's centre it was still very foggy, but as we climbed the windy 8 mile road to the castle, the weather incredibly cleared to a blue & sunny day.
William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnate, created an estate that sprawls over 127 acres of lushly landscaped gardens, accentuated by shimmering pools (sadly under repair & so currently drained) & statues from ancient Greece & Moorish Spain.
We did "Tour I", which covers the estate on a 'macro level' - covering all the major highlights of the castle & lasted 1.5 hrs (& was booked from home prior to leaving - love the internet).
From Hearst we made the final run into Santa Barbara, with a stop in "San Luis Obispo", another community that grew up around the famous Spanish Missions that run up the coast from Mexico. Along the way we also passed many of the regions famous wineries, but sadly had no time to stop & taste.
Santa Barbara is a pretty & very affluent town with its white stucco red tiled homes fronting onto a beautiful harbour. After dinner we discovered an anti war protest, with crosses in the sand & a candle, signifying the us that have died in Iraq - 3256 & counting...Very moving
So now where were we...still in Monteray if my memory serves me well.
*************************************************************************************
Awoke early as today was another long driving day with "Big Sur" being the first spectacle to experience - Big Sur or if translated from Spanish, "The Big South" is a 90-odd mile stretch between Cambria in the south of California & the Monterey Peninsula in the north. The coastline here is an awe-inspiring symphony of nature & at times the road (Hwy 1) seems to clutch @ the cliffs as if in desperation above a ravenous sea.
Highlights along this famous stretch of road included the stunning Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park & amazing Bixby Bridge built in 1932. The major stop was @ "Heart Castle", but before that we were lucky enough to catch a Seal-Lion colony resting on the beach a few miles north of "Hearst Castle".
"Hearst Castle" overlooks the pacific & is probably California's most famous monument to wealth & ambition. As we arrived @ the visitor's centre it was still very foggy, but as we climbed the windy 8 mile road to the castle, the weather incredibly cleared to a blue & sunny day.
William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnate, created an estate that sprawls over 127 acres of lushly landscaped gardens, accentuated by shimmering pools (sadly under repair & so currently drained) & statues from ancient Greece & Moorish Spain.
We did "Tour I", which covers the estate on a 'macro level' - covering all the major highlights of the castle & lasted 1.5 hrs (& was booked from home prior to leaving - love the internet).
From Hearst we made the final run into Santa Barbara, with a stop in "San Luis Obispo", another community that grew up around the famous Spanish Missions that run up the coast from Mexico. Along the way we also passed many of the regions famous wineries, but sadly had no time to stop & taste.
Santa Barbara is a pretty & very affluent town with its white stucco red tiled homes fronting onto a beautiful harbour. After dinner we discovered an anti war protest, with crosses in the sand & a candle, signifying the us that have died in Iraq - 3256 & counting...Very moving
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