21/8/22 Hollywood

A huge walking day today, it started off very cloudy and smoky like there was a bush fire but there weren’t any so somebody had probably set a bush on fire.  Hollywood really isn’t the nicest of neighbourhoods.

This is Hollywood Boulevard before the stars on the footpath and souvenir shops.  It mostly smelt of wee.

I managed to get in front of Manns Chinese Theatre nice and early and happened to be the first one in when they opened the gates.  I was able to get some good shots of various hand foot prints, and did some swapping of signature sightings with some other people.

Given that Anthony Daniels is the only one to sign his actual name I’m not convinced these are the genuine prints.

Avengers autograph! Useless fact* - Robert Downey Junior is the only person to have his handprints in front of the theatre twice.

*by “fact” I mean I didn’t notice anyone else with their names there twice.  I’m probably right.

I did not put my hands anywhere near these prints, they were noticeably caked with other people’s hand gunk.

As far as I can tell there is no pattern or order to most of the stars’ placement.  I’m fairly sure the Apollo 11 crew don’t have much to do with Wendy Barrie, Edward R Murrow, Kirk Douglas and James Stewart.

It also meant you have to be on the constant lookout for people suddenly stopping when they see someone they want to photo, myself included.

This was a bit more fancy than the dirty old Hoyts Sylvia Park

Today was the CicLAvia ride in Hollywood which meant all of Hollywood Boulevard touristy bit (which is pretty long, I know - I walked it twice today) was shut off to traffic and there were literally thousands of people on bikes cycling through.  I have no idea where they came from or where they were going, but it went on for at least five hours.

I finally got to have my first diner breakfast at a 50’s diner & drive in.  Endless cups of coffee, great eggs and some pretty damn good fruit.  As it turned out, today I had more blueberries than I’ve ever had in my entire life.

This would be eggs sunny side up, fresh made beef patties and grilled potato rounds.  And some green bits.

Yep, I’ve seen it in real life.  Nope, it really wasn’t that impressive.

I headed down the street (the walk of fame bit is about 2km long) and got some 360 photos of a couple of  bits (don’t forget to click and drag to make it go around)

Hollywood & Vine

Some people and their bikes

At last I arrived at my destination - Funko Hollywood.  This was so much better than I imagined, there were themed areas for the different lines of Pops and you could sit in or on them for photos.

Harry Potter zone

The Marvel licence to print money zone

Horror zone and some sort of space movie thing, probably not that popular

Needless to say I now have some really cool T-shirts and I’m set up for the next few casual shirt Fridays.

Some sort of space man thing, dunno.

Guardians of the Galaxy area, because they need to sell more

Game of Thrones and Stranger Things.  They only had the mum and Chief Wiggum (or Hopper, whatever his name is)

  I emerged, blinking into the sun, wallet significantly lighter and the cyclists were still at it in force.

Star Wars themed bar.  Yes of course I went in.  They checked vaccination status at the door, which was a hell of a lot more than US Border & Customs did.

Inside the den of scum and villainy. It smelt like scum and villainy too.

Apparently Hollywood High is “Sheik Territory”. Sponsored by Saudi money maybe?

I just couldn’t bring myself to go in there, the photo just doesn’t do justice to the grossness of the place.  Manners Mall McDonalds on a Saturday night gross.

After briskly striding my way back to the hotel… Nope, after dragging my knackered body on blistered feet down some fairly grubby, long and hot streets I collapsed at the hotel to wait for my Uber to the next stop - Anaheim.

The streets are definitely cleaner here, but still has their fair share of loonies.  A guy on the corner asked me if I wanted to hear the word of God.  “Fuck No” slipped out before I could stop myself.  

I think the guy behind me said the same thing in Spanish.

Hotel on the right, IHOP on the left.  Only 10 lanes to cross to get to it.

Thanks to The Doughboys podcast, I’ve been looking forward to the IHOP minions menu for a while now, and it sure did deliver.  I did slightly disgrace myself with the host when she asked me if I wanted half & half or French cream and I said just give me whatever is closest to milk.  Apparently that’s half & half.

My coffee with mystery whitening fluid (aka half & half) and a lemonade with blueberries again.  

No idea why, they didn’t add anything to the taste and I had to fish them out of the ice afterwards with my fork. Yes, you can only take me anywhere twice, the second time to apologise.

Gru’s Evil Steakburger.  Yes, yes it does have Mac n Cheese in it.  And jalapeños, serranos and pepper jack cheese.  Unlike in New Zealand these people aren’t messing about with their spicy food.  

It was so good.  Golden Plate club confirmed.

IBeing a family restaurant right next(ish) to Disneyland there of course were families in there, with horrible noisy whining children.  And I smiled, because I got to walk out of there and enjoy my peace and quiet.  Until I had to go past the corner preacher.  Would you like to hear about letting God into your life?  “Christ, no”.