Touring Los Angeles

First, a picture of our orange tree. Just about ready for picking.

Next, a picture of me. Ready for the Monday night dinner with friends. Notice my little Lili hiding behind me.

On Tuesday I picked up Anna from LAX. She's on her way back to New Zealand, from New Jersey = "Anna's Excellent Adventure - Part Deux"! She went to bed early on Tuesday night and on Wednesday we were tourists. Actually I was Tour Guide and she was tourist.

First she had to fit all of Shannon's and Grant's Christmas gifts into her already overstuffed luggage, but it all fit, barely.

We drove to Pasadena around 10 am, the car loaded up with her luggage. I wanted to show her the Rose Bowl, so after driving around the hills a bit I finally found the Rose Bowl. We went to the building where Rose Parade floats are being built, and I somehow convinced the head guy from Phoenix floats to give us a private tour. Then we drove to the front of the Rose Bowl and took pictures.

The Cheesecake Factory on Colorado Blvd was waiting for us so we could pig out on good food, our only meal of the day. We had a window seat and Anna was amazed at all of the high-dollar cars driving past. She also liked the architecture of the buildings.

After lunch, we headed West on the 134 Freeway towards Universal Studios. Got off in Toluca Lake, home of Bob's Big Boy drive-in burgers. Went past Disney Studios, ABC Studios, Warner Brothers, Bob Hope's old house and the first house I ever lived in which just happens to be on Auckland Ave. Picture of our old house.

The we went to Universal City, home of Universal Studios Tours and the Studios. We just pulled up to the top and took pictures, didn't stop and get out. From there we went down Cuenga over the Hollywood Hills to Hollywood and Highland and to the Kodak Theater, where many awards shows are held. Here is Anna posing in front of the Hollywood sign, way back on that hill behind her.

I zoomed in on the sign.

We walked next door to Grauman's Chinese Theater and looked at movie stars' hand and foot prints in the cement. They were offering a $2 tour to go in the theater, so we joined up.

Inside the theater. It's really very beautiful, you should go inside if you have the opportunity. That evening they were premiering Invictus!!

Tourists....

It was very interesting, as I had never been inside. After seeing the theater, Anna and I broke away for our own self-guided tour of the ladies room, see video.

This is inside the ladies room at the Chinese Theater.

We made our way back to the parking structure, past Darth Vader and Cat Woman, Spiderman and the Incredibles, the self promoting up and coming rap artists - handing out their free CD's of their music. We did have to stop at the chocolate store to buy a piece, because we had to get our parking ticket validated to only cost $2 instead of $5. Money well spent. This was Anna's first time every being validated for parking. She said they don't have that back east.

We left the parking lot and went Eastbound on Hollywood Blvd. to show her the Pantages Theater and the Frolic Room. On the corner of Hollywood and Vine were some pretty strange people. You really should click on this picture to see these people up close, especially the couple to the left. Old Hollywood types.

Then we went to Sunset Blvd. and headed West to look at the clubs and rock and roll places along the way. We saw the Roxy and the Whiskey a Go Go, both old hip spots with great entertainment.

Next stop on the tour, Rodeo Drive. First we drove up into Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills and saw some huge mansions. Finally we found Rodeo Drive and here is a video of us driving throug it. We saw so many Bentley's, Rolls Royce, BMW, Mercedes, etc.

Then we drove down Santa Monica Blvd. to the 405 Freeway and south to LAX where I deposited Anna. She had to move some weight out of her luggage and put it into her backpack, mostly Shannon's protein bars and Grant's jandals.

They are all meeting up in Auckland on Friday night for dinner. Shannon will pick up her goodies, then Luke and Anna will drive 8 hours south on Saturday to Palmerston North, where she will start her new adventure.

I really enjoyed my short visit with Anna.

Good Luck Anna, Love Mrs. O