We
sat outside Starbucks on the pavement, had coffee, and watched the world go by.
Who went by?
We were in Hollywood: there was Darth Vader,
Chewbacca The Wookie, a Stormtrooper, Batman, Spiderman, Mickey and Minnie
Mouse, ‘Chickie?’ and other characters I did not recognize. Some just seemed to
be dressed up for fun but as no particular ‘character’.
As
well as these, there were hundreds of tourists milling around – many young
people and families. You could get your photo taken with any of these famous ‘characters’.
We didn’t. Lots of people did, and it seemed a small donation was acceptable. I
can understand this. It must cost the parading wearers to get such good
costumes to ‘show off’ and entertain the tourists.
Shrek’s
statue stood on a corner, and all sorts of people –even Bruce – had their photo
taken with him. We were just outside Madam Tussard’s with crowds going in and
out. It cost $29 to go in and obviously took more time to enjoy than we had
available.
Before
we made our way back to the coach we explored the brass ‘stars’ on the footpath
and the hand and footprints – even signatures dating from 1930s - in the
concrete of the forecourt at the Chinese Theatre. Round the back where our
coach was parked there were coaches- large and small – coming and going all the
time. Some were smaller, topless “coaches” not much bigger than a ute, but with
rows of velvet lined seats full of
tourists going to the film studios and the streets where many film stars lived.
Large coaches are not allowed in these areas any more.
We
toured areas previously only names to us: Beverly Hills with its Rodeo Drive
–the famous world renowned shopping district. All the big names were on the
shop fronts and people were milling up and down sidewalks. I didn’t see anyone
carrying shopping bags, so this Saturday they were looking not buying.
The famous natural amphitheatre of Hollywood Bowl
was closed to our coach as there was some rehearsal on. We saw Olvera Street Market
Place with its memorial of the founding of Los Angeles in a forested area in
1781. Only 14 families arrived from Mexico, sent by the Spanish Missions to
found a settlement to protect the coast for trade. Of course now it is
America’s third city - a World City – of over 13 million people with a GDP over
$700 billion.
We
spent quite while in the actual Central Business District of Los Angeles round
the block after block of highrise architect designed buildings. We stopped
briefly at the Disney Concert Hall/ Music Centre to admire Frank Gehry’s great
building set in its park with fountain and lakes.
Our
guide was very keen to show us the big ‘HOLLYWOOD’ sign on the hills, which she
seemed to think was the equivalent for Los Angeles of Sydney’s signature Opera
House. There was too much smog to see it clearly or get photographs of
ourselves with it the background.
No
one challenged her, but perhaps I am just parochial. I thought some big letters
on a hill were a very poor second to our Opera House or Harbour Bridge, and
certainly to the Statue of Liberty for New York.
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