Hollywood Boulevard

Well, we decided (after all) to head to Hollywood instead of Capistrano. So no relief from the fog!
Now what can I say about Hollywood after an afternoon spent there? It certainly doesn't qualify me to expound.
We would have been iffy about tackling he drive into the centre of LA, but with our new friend Garmin, we felt secure in the knowledge that we couldn't get lost. Yes, we got bang into the middle of Hollywood Boulevard, and yes, there are oodles of places to park. We parked in the Highland Centre - very posh!
And then we came out on the street! What a street!

Quite a few characters dressed up as film characters; we saw an excellent "Samuel L Jackson" and a pretty "Marylin Monroe" as well as a few in full costume such as the guy above. And it was hot! Somewhere in the 80s. And everyone who wants to can make a buck here - with a bucket!!

Drummer #1

Of course the stars were all along the boulevard. There are still a few empty ones, waiting for me & you! The closest I got to a star was overhearing someone on a mobile phone asking "How did the audition go?"!!
Outside the Chinese Theatre is where all the stars have left their hand & footprints. Here are just a few:

That will have to do you! People were walking all over them trying to get to best angle for their photos. I liked the one of Gene Autrey & Champion!
After the glitz of Hollywood Boulevard we walked to the Hollywood Bowl - far more sedate! Here's a pic of an unusual building along the way:

It was nice to just imagine yourself at a gig of one of the greats. Here's a few to remind you:

When we went inside Joni's Jazz was rehearsing for their gig that night. Note the "boxes" - They seat 4, on folding chairs. There are also tables being set in front of the stage for the rich people!!

And then there are the cheap seats!

Along the walk outsside the Bowl, there is a grove of pepper trees! can't tell you if the seeds are really peppercorns, but they certainly look like it!

There's a lovely peacful shady garden there too. As we passed through, a group of people were gathering with picnics to get the best seats/picnic tables for a concert that was being set up - some kind of benefit.

After that we decided it would be a pity to leave without seeing Sunset Boulevard. That's when we saw the tacky side of Hollywood we were really trying hard not to notice. Bedding and a supermarket trolley in the side street linking the two boulevards. They say this street comes alive at night, but it's hard to believe it. On our way back to the car park we passed the more risque shops - one called Exotic Footwear looked tempting, but to be honest I don't think I'd have the opportunity to wear the flowery or tiger pattern thigh boots, or cowboy-boot sandals too often!!

Oh and then we realised why everyone was lined up on a bridge between two towers in the Babylon Court, with their cameras a-clicking:

Our route home was clogged with traffic, as it was about 6pm when we were leaving. So 'Garmina' took us through South LA, down a 7-mile street called Alameda St. Mmm... Factories, followed by more factories, a park with about 8 trolleys "parked" outside belonging to the street people, then into the more populated districts again, where all the signs seemed to be in Spanish. We could tell we were in a seedier side of town, so didn't stop to take photos!! Signs saying No Cruising $1000 fine and 6 months in jail we reckoned were aimed at more serious crimes than cruising for prostitutes!!

Here's a view of the traffic on the freeway. Taken from the front seat - I couldn't get them to stop and pose! Let's just say they were moving fast.