Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
14/05/09
We disembarked the plane and said our final goodbyes to Kat. We then carried our heavy bags a couple of blocks to a parking lot where we were bundled in to the back of a van and drived to Banana Bungalow on Fairfax. We spent a little while sorting out the washing, I ended up falling asleep before it had finished and woke up at about 7 when the hostel started cooking burgers. They were rank, just like McD's burgers. Laura and I watched Me Myself and Irene and passed out.
15/05/09
I didn't wake up until 10am and seemed to have completely got over any jet lag. The hostel put on a free breakfast so I made full use of it. The woman dished me up 3 slices of bread and then a bowl of cheerios and crunchy nut cornflakes in the most flimsy bowl known to man, I ended up spilling milk everywhere.
We left the hostel and just missed the bus to Venice Blvd, so had to wait on the steps for 20 minutes. We were told we could all get day passes which would let us on any bus for $5, but when the bus finally showed up we had to pay $1.25 each for a single ticket. The driver was so fat it would take 3 of my arms spans to reach around him, it was hideous. we hopped off at Veice blvd and got the next bus all the way to Venice Beach. When we arrived the first thing we saw was two policemen riding those weird things that lazy people use when they can't be arsed to walk anywhere. Then we saw a guy with his trousers so low that the waist band was actually round his knees, he was complaining to his mate that he couldn't keep up, we all laughed because he was walking like a complete twat. When we actually reached the beach we were hit by a whole load more freaks, the best of them all was a guy rollerblading around and playing the guitar at the same time.
We settled down on the beach and I went for a wander to find the toilets, on my way I found an area of beach that had Rings, Parallel Bars, Climbing ropes and Chin Up bars, so I spent the next hour there. I was shocked to discover that I could still do the crucifix, but it did make my arms ache really badly. While I was there there was a guy getting oiled up by some old man who then took loads of photos of him hanging and pouting in different positions, I couldn't help but laugh at him and I don't think he was too pleased. When I was completely shattered I went back to our spot on the beach and sun bathed for a bit. My arms and hands didn't stop twitching and shaking for an hour. We all spent ages listening to t*** all over the beach talking complete nonsense. There was one kid obsessed with talking about nuts, there wasn't a singe sentance he spoke without mentioning the word. There were just loads of ridiculous conversations going on just like you would expect off of any cheap US soap. Everyone seemed to be pretty burnt and Laura had chosen today to expose her bum to the UV rays and ended up burning it badly.
We went for a stroll down the beach and checked out loads of the stores on the way. There were loads of wierdos on the way. We ended up getting a $2 slice of pizza for lunch and then got the bus back. At one point a whole load of people jumped on the bus at once, an elderly woman was at the front and the girl behind her started having a right go at her, she was like "come on...come on...there's people behind, lets keep it moving". The driver was struggling on the way back with the pneumatics on the door, the bus wouldn't pull away unless they were completely shut so every time he pulled over we were stuck on the side of the road for a minute or so listening to doors opening and closing over and over again.
We went out to LaLa's to eat in the evening. The waiter kept bringing bread to the table and we were worried we were going to be charged for each basket. In the end Rich asked him if the bread was complimentary, he didn't seem to understand so we asked if it was free and he seemed really offended and threw the basket on to the table. The service was very good, we had our meals within 5 minutes of ordering even though the places was rammed full of people. When we got back to the hostel we bumped in to Dave and Jamie whom we met on Robinson Crusoe Island in Fiji. They had completely run out of money after a brief visit to Vegas and had heard that our hostel had a huge keg full of beer that they were giving away for free so we all hung around for the night. When the beer ran out we headed off to Charlie and Liz's motel and ended up reading a load of girlie magazines. We left theirs at about 1 and headed back to bed, I was uploading some photos while the others drifted off to sleep and Laura was talking in her sleep again, at one point she shouted out "are you serious" in an American accent then a while later moaned "it hurts...it really hurts", I assumed she was moaning about her burnt bum.
16/05/09
Woke up a little bit late but managed to get free breakfast from the expressionless woman before boarding the LA tour bus at 1015. Our first stop was the walk of fame, we spent about half an hour checking out all the stars and all the decorations for the premier of Up. We then drove to the lookout to see the Hollywood sign and the guide pointed out Ice-T's house, it was far too smoggy to see it very clearly though. We were then driven towards Bel Air, on the way we were shown where Hugh Grant solicited a prostitute and where Lindsay Lohan crashed her car. When we arrived in Bel Air the driver wacked on the Fresh Prince theme and we stopped off outside the mansion where that was filmed. We drove a bit further and saw the Playboy Mansion and J-Lo's house. We were then driven down Ocean Avenue and back on to Venice Beach so we could check out the freak show once more. I just spent the hour and a half we were stopped there at the rings and p-bars again. By the time the others got back I was so knackered, my elbows felt like they were going to snap in half and I had to lean forward to eat a slice of pizza that I bought because I couldn't actually lift my hand towards my mouth without it shaking all over the place. Apparently while the others were walking around, the guy with the roller blades followed Pat along and played him a song on his guitar then asked for a tip when he had finished. Pat thought the guy said chip so offered him one of his chips and apparently he skated off looking pretty pissed off.
We drove out of Venice Beach and over a load of canals that some guy had decided to build to make the place look nicer. We were then dropped off at Rodeo Dr and had 20 minutes to wander around. All the shops were a little bit out of our price range, but we got the courage to go in to one of them dressed in flip flops and a beater. I got followed around everywhere by the security so I thought I'd better leave. The guys and I bought something on Rodeo Dr though, a $2 ice cream each. On the way back to the hostel we saw someone riding a bike that was the height of a house, I have no idea how he pulled up at traffic lights or anything. We also saw the classic girl driving along with a tiny dog as an accessory in her lap, and experienced a lot of road rage with some serious beeping of horns. There was a big sign in the van saying that a 10% tip is greatly appreciated, no one tipped the guy. To be fair, he wasn't the best guide.
I was pretty knackered when we got back so had a nap and then showered at about 7. Charlie and Liz popped round at about half past with the news that Liz's card had been declined because she had already spent too much. We went out for a meal and saw s*** loads of cop cars and a police helicopter at one of the junctions we walked past. We ended up across the road from LaLa's where we ate last night at a place called Frankies where Sinatra apparently used to dine. Frank was a legend, so friendly and the service was brilliant. Helen ordered spaghetti with meat balls, when it arrived it was absolutely massive, she only managed to eat half of it. We couldn't leave a glass on the table half full with out someone coming along and offering us a free refil. They had the best lemonade ever, I ended up having 4 glasses of it. Helen ended up taking hers back home in a doggy bag. When we got back Charlie and Liz showed us all photos of their farm and animals back home then we hit the sack.
17/05/09
Didn't get up until half 10, then went and grabbed a few bowls of free cereal. A new woman was at the breakfast counter looking just as gormless as the previous. The guys had left to go see an LA Galaxy game at 8 so the girls and I got ready to out. We walked to the Beverly Shopping Centre and they showed me around a lot of make up and clothes shops. I was starting to feel a little bit out of place when they told me they were going in to Victoria Secret so decided to just sit and wait for them outside. After an hour or so walking around the shops we decided that everything was a little bit out of our price range so went to the Grove shopping centre. On the way I picked up an Orange and Carrot juice which was actually really nice. The first place we went in to when we got there was called 'The Cheesecake Factory', we got some dodgy looks when we entered so promptly left and walked around a bit longer. We sat down and had a drink, Laura got a blackforest blended coffee, but you couldn't taste any berries in it at all. There was a cool dog tied to the table next to us so we spent the entire time petting it, the family it belonged to didn't seem to treat it very well. Their kid picked it up and attempted petting it but just mashed his hand into the dogs face.
We then went for a walk around the Farmers Market still trying to find a cheap bag for Laura to fit all her crap in on the flight home but had no luck. When we got back to the hostel Laura then went straight back out down Melrose trying to find a bag while Helen and I sun bathed on the patio out the back. The guys and Laura got back at about 4 and we lounged around doing b***** all most of the afternoon. Helen shared the meal she bagged from last night with Pat because there was still so much of it left, while Laura and I cooked omlettes for dinner.
We then went round Charlie and Liz's motel room for the evening and were shown hundreds of garments of clothing that Liz had bought while on holiday and then ended up watching My Best Friends Wedding on the TV.
- comments