 |
| LAPD crime scene |
 |
| LAPD Bomb Squad |
 |
| Bicycle friendly bus |
Monday, 31 March 2014
Hollywood
Now we have a grip on the bus system, it's time to buy a day pass. At $1.50 per trip it's cutting into our daily budget so we can save a fortune by getting a 'daily'. So off we go to the underground station where we are confronted with a machine. Luckily a young English girl (woman) is there to help us buy our two daily tickets at a total cost of $12.
Then we're off to Hollywood by bus in search of stars, and possibly a lead role!
En route Heather finds (another) 99c store and a junk store. The 99c store is a supermarket and items cost 99c. The US is cheap compared to Oz. The junk store has a great web address www.thisisnotikea.com.
When we arrive at Hollywood Boulevard we discover that it consists mostly of spruikers for tours, souvenir stores, adult shops and eateries. Even the souvenirs are cheap...and made in China.
Indian food for late lunch and Heather's pleased with her chicken tikka salad and lassi. Jeff had chicken malai, vegetable korma, rice, roti and Kingfisher. Total cost $23.82.
So it's two buses to Hollywood and two bus rides to get home. You do the maths. Was the day pass a bargain or not?
Then we're off to Hollywood by bus in search of stars, and possibly a lead role!
En route Heather finds (another) 99c store and a junk store. The 99c store is a supermarket and items cost 99c. The US is cheap compared to Oz. The junk store has a great web address www.thisisnotikea.com.
When we arrive at Hollywood Boulevard we discover that it consists mostly of spruikers for tours, souvenir stores, adult shops and eateries. Even the souvenirs are cheap...and made in China.
Indian food for late lunch and Heather's pleased with her chicken tikka salad and lassi. Jeff had chicken malai, vegetable korma, rice, roti and Kingfisher. Total cost $23.82.
So it's two buses to Hollywood and two bus rides to get home. You do the maths. Was the day pass a bargain or not?
Sunday, 30 March 2014
LA beaches - day 2
Today was spent visiting Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Possibly because it's a Sunday, and a nice day, crowds are very large. There are separate paths for bike riders and pedestrians, and both were very busy as we did the return walk to Venice Beach.
 |
| A message about war |
 |
| Santa Monica pier |
Day 1 in LA
Off to Tulla bright and early only to be confronted with a two hour delay as the plane hadn't passed security, been cleaned or whatever. Finally on board the Airbus A380 it's smoothe flying to LA in 13.5 hours. That's a bonus as i thought it was a 16 hour flight.
We arrive at our hotel about 10am but check in isn't till 3pm. The room's ready around noon and they let us in. Another bonus, although the QANTAS recommended hotel is 2.5 star.
Time to book the bus to Vegas, shower and grab a nap.
Bus to Vegas leaves at 1pm on April 1 and it's a 5.5 hour trip, longer than my expected 3 hours. Will be a rush once we arrive as we have to collect tickets to Jersey Boys.
Meanwhile, back in LA, we are ready to head out on a walk to Downtown and then onto a historic precinct named El Pueblo. Unknown to us it's 5.5km to Downtown and another 3 to El Pueblo. We sought directions from two people along the way and both said it's too far to walk. Buses are only $1.50 we were to learn on the way back!
Some lovely buildings remain in LA. Probably 1930s and if i can work out how to load them to the blog, I will.
El Pueblo was interesting. A tiny neighbourhood, it's where LA commenced back in 1781. A little like a tiny Mexican 'Vic Market', there was shopping and eating. They were celebrating the blessing of the animals.
After walking more than 10km we jumped on a bus back to the hotel to plan for Santa Monica and Venice Beach tomorrow.
 |
| Not happy with the 2 hour delay! |
We arrive at our hotel about 10am but check in isn't till 3pm. The room's ready around noon and they let us in. Another bonus, although the QANTAS recommended hotel is 2.5 star.
Time to book the bus to Vegas, shower and grab a nap.
Bus to Vegas leaves at 1pm on April 1 and it's a 5.5 hour trip, longer than my expected 3 hours. Will be a rush once we arrive as we have to collect tickets to Jersey Boys.
Meanwhile, back in LA, we are ready to head out on a walk to Downtown and then onto a historic precinct named El Pueblo. Unknown to us it's 5.5km to Downtown and another 3 to El Pueblo. We sought directions from two people along the way and both said it's too far to walk. Buses are only $1.50 we were to learn on the way back!
Some lovely buildings remain in LA. Probably 1930s and if i can work out how to load them to the blog, I will.
El Pueblo was interesting. A tiny neighbourhood, it's where LA commenced back in 1781. A little like a tiny Mexican 'Vic Market', there was shopping and eating. They were celebrating the blessing of the animals.
After walking more than 10km we jumped on a bus back to the hotel to plan for Santa Monica and Venice Beach tomorrow.
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Final countdown
With just 23 days until we depart, travel insurance is in place and most accommodation and travel plans booked and confirmed. There are no flights direct from Cuba to Jamaica so we are going via the Cayman Islands with a three-night stopover in Grand Cayman.
The plan is to return to Australia via Hawaii to see Pearl Harbour.
The total trip looks like this:
Melbourne to LA
Las Vegas
Washington DC
Williamsburg
New York
Boston
Toronto
Cuba
Grand Cayman
Jamaica
Toronto
Hawaii
Melbourne
The plan is to return to Australia via Hawaii to see Pearl Harbour.
The total trip looks like this:
Melbourne to LA
Las Vegas
Washington DC
Williamsburg
New York
Boston
Toronto
Cuba
Grand Cayman
Jamaica
Toronto
Hawaii
Melbourne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)