Lee’s World
West Hollywood 2002
West Hollywood was the first stop on our three centre trip.
We stayed at the Ramada Plaza Hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard. It was only a short bus (yes, we used the bus!) ride to the Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Boulevard.
Santa Monica Boulevard, the original route 66, is lined with rainbow flags as it runs up from Beverley Hills through West Hollywood. The gay community have revived the area, and lined the busy road with restaurants, bars and cafes. It is also the place to sit in pavement cafes enjoying a latte watching muscled hunks go by - everyone seems to have a huge chest there!
Day
One took us to the Getty Centre - a long wait for the
bus on Sunset Boulevard but worth it as it took us past the Beverley Hills
Hotel and the former homes of Jayne Mansfield and Judy Garland.
The Getty Collection has moved from its home at the Getty Mansion to an amazing complex of buildings set high above Santa Monica set in the most beautiful gardens.
Having admired the works of Turner, Van Gogh and Monet and the stunning architecture of the Centre, we boarded the bus again for lunch next to Muscle Beach, just south of Santa Monica Pier.
Here we go to see very different "art"! over an enjoyable lunch at "Pedals".
Evenings saw us out in the bars of Santa Monica Boulevard - Here and the Abbey - and enjoying the fabulous fajitas and burgers at Dudes.
If only Jon would leave the waiters alone and not ask them all if they worked out!
Day Two saw us
enjoying all that was on offer at Universal Studios Hollywood.
We bought
Hollywood Citypasses at the Universal for $59 which enabled us to visit not only
Universal but several other Hollywood attractions too, including taking a
tour of the Hollywood stars' homes.
Universal is a huge
theme park attached to the backlots of Universal films. We
were fortunate that none of the queues were too long, but we did get there
early in the day.
Highlights included
Jon being pounced on by a
statue
in the Mummy Returns ride, getting soaking wet on the Jurassic Park ride,
the amazing effects in the
Terminator 2 show, coming face-to-face with Jaws and King Kong on the studio
tour, and the reminisces of Lucille Ball in the "I love Lucy"
exhibition.
The following day
took us into the heart of Hollywood. Breakfast in a diner on Hollywood
Boulevard, followed by a Starline Tour of homes in Beverley Hills and the
Hollywood Hills. The majority of which seemed to be "former homes of ..."
rather than current homes. The majority of which were hidden from view by
high fences and gates. It is possible to complete the tour yourself in a car
with a map/addresses which can be downloaded from the internet.
After the tour we
walked the "Walk of Fame". Richard sat on the
pavement next to the divine Bette Midler, and I went in search of Barbra
Streisand.
We also explored the new home of the Oscars, the Kodak Theatre, and the handprints outside the Chinese Theatre.
Another attraction
included in our Citypasses was the Holywood Entertainment Museum, on
Hollywood Boulevard. We sat on the
set of the Starship Enterprise and
visited the original set of Cheers, before trying our hand at making sound
effects, and visiting the tribute to Judy Garland exhibition.
We then moved on to
the last resting place of many Hollywood Stars - the Hollywood Forever
Memorial Park on Santa Monica Boulevard. Nestled at the back of the
Paramount Studios lot, is the most peaceful cemetery where Rudolph
Valentino, Mel Blanc, Cecil B de Mille, Marion Davies, and Tyrone Power are
buried, amongst others
After four exhausting days and nights it was time to move South to San Diego.