Whew! So I keep forgetting that I never got a "Part II" post from my California trip (back in March/April) up. Time sure does fly! I hope you enjoy this sampling of photos, even though they're belated. I'm hoping to get an album or two online sometime. Maybe by Christmas... ;)
Welcome to Los Angeles! The trees are gorgeous and there's history everywhere, but otherwise it's kind of a trashy place (at least in the Hollywood section). Cari says it's actually come a long way, but it just doesn't have the same class as our major East Coast cities. (Yes, I am a snob. ;) Hold onto your purse and try to ignore the person trying to sell you something every five steps down the street. (Oh yeah, and watch out for stalkers! :P)
Just walking around downtown L.A. and seeing the stars in the sidewalk was one of the best things about the area. I recognized so many names... I just kept my camera on and snapped pictures of them all as we walked. And paused to pose with a few special people (like Ginger Rogers, above).
The super cool thing about the Kodak Theater, where they hold the Academy Awards every year, is that it's in a shopping mall, and the famous stairs are accessible to the public. All the films that won the best picture award are displayed on the columns on either side of the staircase, along with the date. It's a neat place.
Madame Tussaud's was definitely the most fun thing we did in the two days we spent in Hollywood. We had tossed around the idea of going to the one in London while we were there, but ultimately it didn't make the roster, so we decided to stop by in L.A. It was totally worth it. There were loads of wax statues of celebrities, new and old, and some of them were strikingly lifelike (others, not so much). Hugging Jimmy Stewart? The experience of a lifetime. I highly recommend this place. ;)
The Hollywood Museum was another highlight of the area, and it had loads of classic photos and memorabilia. I do recommend it, but there's some sleazy stuff (beware the infamous Marilyn Monroe section) and a creepy basement. :P
These two tiny dresses were worn by Judy Garland back when she was still little Frances Ethel Gumm. The Ruby Slippers I had seen before, in a traveling exhibition when I was only seven or eight years old, but they still hold the same magic.
Of course, any memorabilia regarding our favorite notorious relative is always a plus. :P (For the record, we have no record of any relationship, other than the same last name. But we love him, anyway. ;)
The morning that we were getting ready to visit Hollywood, we turned on the tv to hear the news. And there it was... the announcement that Elizabeth Taylor had just died. It was kind of crazy, since everyone was talking about her the whole time, and her picture was everywhere. It seems like every time I travel, someone famous dies (including Michael Jackson). Maybe I should stay put?
Grauman's Chinese Theater is also a pretty neat place. The first day when we tried to visit, almost the entire area was blocked off for a movie premiere taking place that evening (which in itself was pretty cool). So we went back the following week to get more photos, and found some fresh Helen Mirren prints. (Supposedly Penelope Cruz also got her star on the walk of fame that week. L.A. is always busy!)
And, after all the craziness of that flashy town had given us a headache, we discovered the perfect little place to relax. I had found Cafe Audrey in an internet search, and marked it as a spot to get lunch when we were in L.A. It's around the corner from all the excitement of Hollywood, but quiet, peaceful, and slathered in the inspiration of Audrey Hepburn. Such a nice little place, and one that I will definitely come back to if I get to California again. You just can't beat tomato soup and a hot panini after a long day of adventuring. :)
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So, that's the rest of my California adventure update, for now. Have you ever been there? What are your favorite haunts? I'll keep them in mind... I'm definitely planning a return. :)
-Amanda
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