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So, on a fine sunny Saturday morning, at a cool 94F, I left finally Baker, happy to have survived through the night and probably never to return. As I drove away I listened to the radio, I began to wonder if the local station ever bothered to read out a weather forecast. I never did find out. |
The Inn has a tour desk, which
through tour company L.A. Tours, can organise tours of the area, including
major studios, Disneyland, Downtown LA, shopping districts and day long
coastal journeys to San Diego and southern California beaches. These tours
were to be my adventure on the following day. Whilst flicking through the
hotels in-room information pack, I was somewhat re-assured to read (alongside
the usual "what to do in the event of a fire", etc.), an information sheet
telling me what to do in the event of an earthquake! Fortunately, I didn't
need to put the theory into practice. Finally, no discussion of the Inn
would be complete without mention of the rooftop revolving restaurant.
From here you can slowly watch the LA skyline pass by, from Downtown LA,
to Santa Monica and onto the Hollywood Hills.
Anyway, a few hours later I had left the desert behind
and was quickly descending from the Mountains into San Bernardino and entering
the smog and haze filled valley. Out of the whole journey, this was the
bit I was most apprehensive about. Could I battle my way through 50 miles
of Los Angeles freeways without getting lost? Would I get car-jacked? Would
I take a wrong turn and end up in the middle of ganglands and end as a
drive by shooting statistic? As it happens getting to the Holiday Inn in
Hollywood was a breeze. Despite the attrocious condition of the freeways,
and the total lack of any meaningful roadsigns which may give some clue
as to the direction I was travelling, I managed to arrive without a single
wrong turn. OK, so there were two occasions when I had to stop and have
a good long look at the map, but at least I was on the right road, I just
wasn't sure which bit of the right road I was on.
So, what can I say about Hollywood? Well except its rather warm, humid and
hazy, not a lot. Compared to the previous 10 days or so, which had been spent in the dry heat and altitude (6000ft +) of Colorado and Arizona,
there was something refreshing about being back at sea level and feeling some humidity. Like most mega-tourist centres, there are lots of tourists,
and lots of gift and souveneir shops The Holiday Inn on Highland Avenue is ideally located for exploring the area as well as featuring a
famous view from the rooms on the North side. It is located just one street away from Hollywood Boulevard, and just five minutes walk from sights such
as the Mann Chinese Theatre, and the footprints of the stars.
Both sides of Hollywood Boulevard
are lined with the Walk of Stars. Just take a few minutes walk whilst staring
at your feet and see how many names you can recognise.
