LA

Los Angeles

Unlike the rest of the places on the trip with LA I didn't research here at all before I left the UK, while travelling we have met a fair few Americans and some from the LA area which told us things to do, where to go and what to see.

The hostel where we stayed is nice, there are not many in LA so it was quite an easy choice – USA hostels, just off Hollywood Boulevard, everyday they have some kind of even running such as free walking tours or a shuttle bus to the beach. Every morning they also have all you can make pancakes, a little different to our pancakes but after a few goes you get the hang of making them.

The first day and for the first time I seemed to actually suffer from the jet lag, pretty tired we just stayed around Hollywood Boulevard finding all the stars on the floor and then going to a 50's style restaurant called Mells diner.

2^nd Day, Fairly uneventful and still feeling a little off from the time change we still stayed near the hostel, heading left this time on Hollywood Boulevard, which was much nicer than going right and how I had pictured holly wood, palm trees lining a road of lights, theatres and cinemas with souvenir shops everywhere. Outside the Kodak theatre we checked out all the hand and foot prints trying to see how Guiness book of records & Mexican restaurant, hand prints and other way up the Hollywood strip.

3^rd day and time to check out he beaches, the sky was blue and the sun was out when we left the hostel however Santa Monica and Venice can have very different weather to LA, sea mist filled the town and the thin layer of clouds above was enough to stop the sun from burning it off. The beach is pretty amazing, just how you would imagine it, surfers out waiting, skateboarders in the huge concrete skate park, muscle beach and courts one end and all along the promenade small stands line the shops opposite with anything from street performers to artists trying to make it their way.

The path leads all the way from Venice to Santa Monica and it's pier, one of the first thing you reach as you arrive is a group of big steel frames that on nearer become clear that they are almost an outdoor gymnastics gymnasium with ring and bars to throw yourself between as well as a line of rings spaced apart so you can practice your gladiator training. We use a couple of buses to return to Hollywood to find out all about the LA traffic we had been warned about taking 2 ½ hours to do the 20 minute journey.