28th January - LA

Arrived about a half hour earlier than scheduled, so 4ish. It was damned early! And cold! And not particularly nice! I had rough directions to get to the hostel, but first had to get to the point at which I'd been told to go to get there from. So I waited across the road from the Greyhound Station with a heap of homeless people fast asleep around me, for the bus to take me downtown I suppose. Very disoriented. The guard from the station seemed a bit concerned for me being there so stood and watched til the bus arrived. So downtown I headed, on a fairly busy bus. I was watching for where to get off and soon enough was at the end of the line! The driver told me that I should've got off at an earlier stop, duhh, but when he told me where it was, it didn't agree with the instructions I had. He was lovely though and gave me an all day bus ticket to use to get back to where I needed to be and on from there. Very nice of him. Big saving for the day in such an expansive city. Eventually I was in Venice. The sun was slowly rising. It was lovely. Palm trees all around, that twilight zone, active people, busy tired commuters. Again, in Venice, I didnt' get off the bus at the point I'd been told to get off at. The big post office. Definitely hadn't gone past a big post office! So I walked around the entire suburb getting my orientation with the crap directions, until I was at the roundabout that had a small big post office and over from that to the left slightly, the hostel! What a relief!! Went in, asked nicely if they had a room for me. Indeed they did. Checked in and went to room, deposited bags then returned to the kitchen to make some breakfast. Had a shower then headed off to Hollywood! Found the bus to take me up there, very easy indeed. Just took a (typically LA I'm told) long long time to get to where I needed to be. Lucky it was an entertaining journey. Some lady having a full on conversation with multiple personalities and barbie dolls. Had most of the bus not really too sure where to look!! Eventually was down the bottom of the hill in West Hollywood. Walked up, to Melrose Avenue. Wandered around, had some lunch, window shopped. Up through suburbia, lush and lovely, and parks, until I was at Hollywood Boulevard. Tacky, but it was something I wanted/had to do - Kodak Theatre, look through to the sign, the stars on the ground. So I did. Not extensively though. Did some shopping, some great bargains to be had! Gifts for the parents, gifts for myself...


(must go now, will finish later)