We boarded the double decker bus and sat up the top. A running commentary was provided, pointing out landmarks and buildings of significance. At any stop you can get off and have a look around, and jump on the next bus. We elected to do a full lap and work out where we'd spend more time. Rodeo Drive got the big thumbs up!
We got off in Beverly Hills and had lunch and the girls got a milkshake from Millions of Milkshakes. Apparently stars go in and invent Milkshakes, and who were we to pass up a possible celebrity sighting? Sadly, no celebrities were in there inventing today.
After reboarding the bus, we got off and walked past the Beverly Hills Police station down to Rodeo Drive. This place makes Unley Road look like Elizabeth City Centre!!! Luxury, luxury, luxury, and the price tags to match! Not that anything in the windows had price tags - if you have to ask how much anything is, you probably can't afford it!! We saw up close a $1.5m Bugatti - what a sexy car! It's owned by a 23 year old heir to one of Rodeo Drives most exclusive stores - Bijan. So exclusive, you shop by appointment only, and shoppers spend on average $100,000 per visit. Think I might have to ask for a pay rise!!
After meandering down arguably the most famous street in LA, we popped in to the Beverly Wiltshire, as one does, made famous in the movie 'Pretty Woman'. I waltzed in those doors like I owned the place, and everyone was so friendly, despite the fact I had clearly come in to look, and look only! While taking a photo of the elevator doors, a man said 'here, open it' and pressed the button! Even Amy was a little awed by the friendliness of the staff. Maybe they thought we some some eccentric rich people that just liked to "dress down". Nope, just Aussie tourists having a gawk!!
We jumped back on the bus after walking down the gorgeous tree lined street, stopping to take some happy snaps of some sculptures. And we all posed in front of the big sign proclaiming it to be, indeed, Beverly Hills.
Once back at our starting point, we wandered back to have a look at some of the places we missed. Lured in by the 'everything $5' signs, we dropped some coin and bought some mementoes of Hollywood. Tara had a picture taken with a very friendly and funny Tinkerbell which made her very happy!! We went back into Sweet and bought some goodies. I was very temped by a delicious looking Wonka fudgalicious scrumptious calorie burn out bar (it was what Charlie found the Golden ticket in, but he could afford the calorie blow out!!) but I left it on the shelf. I bought myself an authentic American root beer, or sarsaparilla. We got some dinner, not realising just how late it was! We then strolled back to the bad lands, AKA North Hollywood and noted that we had quite pleasantly killed 12 hours.
A side note on American money. They love their $1 notes!!! I swear they give you as many as they can in your change! Maybe there's a law that says they have to. And the coins are confusing! Even asking how much a dime was, I still gave the sales lady too much when trying to give correct change. And they can do away with pennies if they just round up or down! I mean, $17.46.... Round it down to $17.45 and keep your evil penny!! I'm sure by the end of week 4 ill be paying money correctly but day 2 in, it's just stoopid!!! And must stop calling Tara 'Doobie'. I did today and about four people looked around expectantly, thinking I was offering them a joint!! Even though a guest at the hotel this morning showed us his 'medicinal' weed.
As Kimmy has been updating this blog I thought I would throw my two cents worth in 😛
It's the little things in life that let you know you're in another country. The smell in the air (read car fumes), the people you pass in the street.....their clothing, attitude, even the way they walk. The fact that water DOES go down the drain the wrong way, that for some reason the toilet bowl is at least half full of water before you use it (blokes take note of cold surprises), that the LAPD helicopter flies much lower and more often than ours and that the police obviously take no chances when pulling over vehicles. You can ride bikes on the footpath and helmets are voluntary, the price and quality of fresh food and other assorted groceries are F**king cheap compared to back home, that an old car on the road here craps over any car I could afford back home and that Kimmy will likely kill me if I keep playing the 'punch stang' game every time I see a Mustang drive past. Dogs are allowed in shops, you don't see cigarette butts anywhere and of course tipping.....after two days I still haven't worked out when I SHOULD tip and if I do, have I just complimented the receiver or insulted them lol.
It also saddens me to see such constant stark examples of the gap between the 'have too much' and the 'have nothings', not just in separate districts but 'rubbing shoulders' so to speak. People lying on sidewalks nearby attractions that lure the $$ or standing nearby the front of business's that ply the trade of people with obscene personal fortune. I walked past one young girl tonight, just another one I walked past amongst others sitting there with her cardboard sign saying 'need money am hungry' and as usual tried to ignore a sense of guilt I felt for spending money on 'frivolous' things. My family and I sat down and ordered our meal nearby.....and I couldn't just sit there. I made an excuse to Kimmy, walked out and down the street a bit, squatted down in front of her and said 'how's it going luv' and handed her a $10 note. The gratitude I received just about made me throw up......maybe the position she's in is her fault, maybe not.....maybe she bought herself a good feed, maybe not.....but I know I can't do the same for everyone. I'm still thinking that over.....
Now my musings aside I'll give the yanks one thing, overall we could not have received warmer greetings. I have been especially surprised by friendly shutouts from people that seem to own nothing more than a couch on the sidewalk.
Certainly today it has sunk in that I am ACTUALLY in another country. And it delights me 😄.
I look forward to see what tomorrow brings....
Take care all.
song of the day: Hooray for Hollywood
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