Ann and Marty California Adventure: November 2006

Today is Day Two here in California. Last night we look at a tour brochure and the one we liked best called Tour Number One. It is best described as:

LA, WE CAME, WE SAW, WE CONQUERED!

Last night talking with Jacob, he told us about a tour by Grand Express Tour called, guess what, Tour Number One. Whooohooo, what a GREAT recommendation. We needed more time at almost every stop and in a way that is a great thing as we know that it means that we weren't bored.

At 9:05 the driver showed up (damn, can't remember his name) and we got on. Ann, me and the lady from Australia. Now the lady from Australia was having a rough trip. She had missed the bus a couple of times and was practically in tears as to what had happened. But we all got on the bus, listened to the driver tell us a couple of times that how much we would enjoy the trip depended upon our attitude.

And we started on our way. One of the first great things was when we went across the bridge that the bus went off of in the movie Speed (hey, I have watched this one with my grandbabies)

Look at the drop off!

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There are 37 million people in LA County, and the place is just huge. Here is a pic as we are heading ointo the inner city. which is now mostly a financial district. The next pic is just a pic of the smog that surrounds LA. Yucky looking isn't it?

Then we headed further into downtown LA and passed things like the Staples Center where the Los Angeles Lakers play. They are building a multi-million dollar hotel.

Here is a restaurant that has been continually open since 1929-I think the guard said. There isn't even a lock on the door. (Twenty-Four hour service, seven days a week, my kind of restaurant. I wouldn't even need to have a kitchen.)

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Here are some shots of the streets of LA where some of the movies you may have heard of have been shot.

Here is a shot or two of some of the buildings that have elevators on the outside where some of those scenes are shot.

And next is the spot under the arches where Danny Devito stood and waited for the kidnappers to call in about his wife.

Actually, no we haven't noticed that the pictures are sideways. snicker

And remember the building that King Kong climbed up? Here it is.

And next came Hollywood. First came the walk of fame. Now some people don't want their names on the sidewalk, even though they could have them there. (People like Robert Deniro) It does cost big bucks to get your star there even after you manage to qualify. (Now is Robert just frugal or is he modest, what do ya think?

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Ann and I looked for Arnold Schwartzenegers star, but couldn't find it. We ran out of time like I said earlier. And the spot where Richard Gere picked up Julia Roberts in the movie Pretty Woman was just across the street, but the Fredericks Store has moved a few blocks down the street and it dosn't look the same.

We did of course find Mickey's Star (grin)

And of course Donald signed his name and put his prints in the cement in 64.

Here you will notice Marty's toes, try9ing to see how she fits into the shoes of Eddie Murphy and Tom Hanks.

We tried to find Arnie, like I said, but ran out of time. Instead, here is a shot of Anne in front of the Disney Store that is on Hollywood Avenue.

(Try to ignore the guy on the right, we do.)

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Here we are in front of the infamous Hollywood sign. It's that little white blob on the mountain in the back.

Here is Marty pretending to be one of the rich and famous at the grill on Hollywood.
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And here is a pic that Marty forced on Ann because she really, really liked the purse that was shaped like a guitar. (grin)

And we snatched a pic of Robin Williams star on the run back to the van. (It would have cost $125 to catch a taxi back, so we were very mindful of the time.)

Ok, yes that is my foot (Marty). this is probably as close to Robin Williams as I will ever get. LOL

And on the way to look at some of the houses of the stars, we drove by a few places of importance (Ok, it was more than a few places of importance, but I coudn't take pics fast enough, I was caught up in the touristy ooo and aahhh)

Now to get your name writen up on the marquis of the comedy store, you have to have performed there.

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Next we got to drive by Whisky a Go Go. Note to self, next time schedule a tour with enough time to drop into Whiskey a Go Go, it's not even time for lunch yet, I need a drink.

And now, we are heading out to view some of the houses' of the stars.

Picture ann and marty on the van heads bobbing from side to side.

Ok, we are done oooking at people's houses, let's get moving onto Rodeo drive.

Here it is, the hotel. Pretty Woman, Big Business, etc. Reg. Bev. Wil.

On $Rodeo Drive Baby.

Here we are at the fountain across from the Beverly Wilshire.

Here is Ann at Tiffany's.

and here I am at Gucci's.

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Now just how much does one get paid to be a soldier on Rodeo Drive?

And there is time for one more pic before the van driver picks us up to take us to lunch; here is a mickey mouse for sale with some jelly beans. It's only $2795.

Let's go to lunch.

Marty and Ann

Today Ann and Marty set off on their long awaited trip to California. At 3AM Marty went to pick Ann up. Then they got picked up by a guy named Brian from Ruby's Airport Shuttle. (We would have had more pics but Marty was way too burned out.)

This is Ann.

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This is from Ann: Today was the first time I ever tried to fly. The first plane ride I was nervous. I sat in the aisle seat. The take-off kinda freaked me out. We flew into Chicago's Midway Airport and I about came out of my seat when we landed. The runways at Midway are short.

Then we transferred to a different plane to fly to Los Angeles. I sat by the window and even looked out the window as we were taking off. Once we were up in the air, it was magical. I never seen the clouds from the other side before. There are really blue skies up here. They gave us snacks-dried fruit, crackers and cheese and crackers. They were good.

Mike Bornais said that when I flushed the toilet on a plane it would go into the sky. I did flush the toilet and that didn't happen.

The flight attendents on the second plane were great. Because it was my first plane ride, they gave me a certificate and a luggage tag.

Southwest Airline Rocks

And reason number eleven is that they are just such darn great people to fly with.

(We were not compensated for the above endorsement.)

When we got to the airport we called the hotel and found a shuttle for a great price

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Prime Time Shuttle.

We were not compensated for this endorsement either.

(Maybe we should think this through better)

We are staying at the

Holiday Inn in Buena Park.

There is a guy there named Jacob who works here who is awesome. He helped us find a restaurant to eat at and helped us pick out a tour for tomorrow. (We will get his picture with us tomorrow.) Jacob showed us a picture of him and his twin sister when they were kids. She lives in Minnesota.

This is Ann hanging out in our hotel room.

We went to Fuddruckers for supper. They advertise that they serve the world's greatest hamburgers. The waiters wore shirts that said "Friends don't give friends fruitcake, they give Fuddruckers Gift Certificates".