The Grand Tour!

Today would be our grand city tour when Starline Tours would take the 'driving strain' and we'd get to see and enjoy the best of the city sights. It has to be said from the start that the tour was excellent and right from 'the off' it proved to be a sensible option .... especially when pulling onto 'freeway 405' (of which we had already gained much experience!) our driver 'Kevin' explained that in order to ease the pressure on this six-lane highway, two further lanes would soon open, in each direction! During the morning we went downtown to LA's commercial district, passing the Convention Centre, and the Lakers stadium. (It was already hot and destined to hit 100+)

We stopped for lunch at the Farmers Market and made a beeline for Johnny Rockets, after which we re-boarded the bus and headed for Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, taking in Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, and some of the most expensive homes in California.

But here's the thing ..... everything looks pretty ordinary, even top nightspots such as the Vipers Club, which was once owned by Johnny Depp and is a regular host to A-list stars. It has to be said, however, that Rodeo Drive does boast all the right brands, displays no price tags, and is the only place that I've see a Bugatti Veron, parked-up by the kerb!

One retailer requires prospective shoppers to pre-book appointments and pay $1,500 up-front, as a consultation fee!! Our tour ended at Charlie Mann's Chinese Theatre on the Street of the Stars, where we strolled around for a while soaking-in the atmosphere.

This area is now a tourist trap and it was hard to recall that at the time of our previous visit, back in the 1990's, it was effectively a no-go area for tourists. We also got to descend the stairway that the Oscar nominees ascend on their big night and marvelled at how Hollywood can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary! But hey, that's the magic of Hollywood!!