Anyone Game? 2 Castles and a Road Trip TR! Last Day and TR Wrap Up! #2796; 10/01

[franandaj]

We have never been to CPK, so I can't offer comments, but yours and other have told me it is good, there are just so many other places we would rather eat and so limited a number of meals we eat out, CPK never wins.

All of Hollywood can be dodgy. We go to the Pantages somewhat regularly and have encountered people urinating on the corners and people asking for money throughout. Believe it or not the area has gotten better from when I moved to LA in the early 80s, but anywhere in the LA area can be sketchy as far as walking around at night. For the most part in the tourist areas, you're safe as long as it's well lit and there are folks around. Just don't walk down dark alleys and other untraveled places.

It seems like you and DH got a bit of alone time this trip as DS wanted to hang out in the room. He's welcome to hang here with the WIFI on your Mad Dash in a couple weeks while we do fun things like drive down the coast and other such things that teenagers roll their eyes at!

You may want to point out the link to that TR again as there are some folks here who may not know about the TR coming back to CA for a week in a few....Leshaface!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sometimes a lazy afternoon and some retail therapy can be wonderful!

Loved all of the night pictures and the pizza looked yummy!

Every holiday we go on, DH and I think we need to have lazy days and a much more relaxed pace. It never quite works out that way. Even when I plan for do-nothing days, we always seem to go-go-go.

I'm very impressed your credit card remained neglected.

A very nice relaxing afternoon/evening. Dinner looked very good. I've only heard good things about CPK but have never been there myself.

I was more shocked that the CC remained neglected.

Was behind but all caught up!

So cool that this ride has a tour only option!

Good pic with the Wolverine

That really stinks about the waiter at Tchoup Chop. Food can be good, but if the experience isn't, it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth overall.

So many frogs in one update!







I still have never visited this area in LA yet. I'm a bad Californian. But the shopping center looks really fun!...I could probably do some damage there. Probably best I don't visit anytime soon.

That shopping center looks better than it actually is. There are definitely better places to go shop than here.

(But it is in my siggie below)

That was very restrained that your credit card stayed in your pocket. I enjoyed the night photos. I actually quite like the shopping mall. It is so over the top that it already has a certain charm again.

Corinna

Glad you liked the night photos. Thanks.

That mall is interesting enough and it was rather exciting to be there when there was a red carpet event going on.

Once again, beautiful pics! I'll have to consider seeking out a CPK; your meal looked delish!

I'll be curious to know what you think of CPK if you do go seek it out.

I am pretty sure we ate at CPK - wherever it was very good. I know people say the area is a bit dodgy and yes, there were panhandlers out and about when we were there but seriously we felt fine walking in the vicinity as it was always so busy-we just watched out for pickpockets. Different story when we headed south past the high school many blocks to catch the bus (but it was daylight so not too bad, we just figured that neighbourhood was one we wouldn't want to be in at night). Now we've seen it though no desire to go back except to the Grove shopping centre. I didn't realise the Disney Soda Ftn store had closed.

It was fine when we were there too. But we did keep aware of who was around us.

The food at CPK looks good and it has been a long time since I ate at CPK. I will have to consider it one day.

Wonderful nighttime pictures that night in SoCal.

Thanks Bret. I have to admit that I do prefer Cheesecake Factory over CPK these days.

We have never been to CPK, so I can't offer comments, but yours and other have told me it is good, there are just so many other places we would rather eat and so limited a number of meals we eat out, CPK never wins.

All of Hollywood can be dodgy. We go to the Pantages somewhat regularly and have encountered people urinating on the corners and people asking for money throughout. Believe it or not the area has gotten better from when I moved to LA in the early 80s, but anywhere in the LA area can be sketchy as far as walking around at night. For the most part in the tourist areas, you're safe as long as it's well lit and there are folks around. Just don't walk down dark alleys and other untraveled places.

It seems like you and DH got a bit of alone time this trip as DS wanted to hang out in the room. He's welcome to hang here with the WIFI on your Mad Dash in a couple weeks while we do fun things like drive down the coast and other such things that teenagers roll their eyes at!

You may want to point out the link to that TR again as there are some folks here who may not know about the TR coming back to CA for a week in a few....Leshaface!

There are so many other options to eat at in SoCal that I can well understand why CPK doesn't figure high on your list.

I'm hoping to finish this TR in the next week and will provide the link again then.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Los Angeles 10 October 2013


Wake Up! It's West Coast Sunrise Time



As the major entry point into the US for Australians, I've visiting Los Angeles on numerous occasions. In all those times, I've never really developed a rapport or a love for this city the way I have with San Francisco. I do like bits of the city....Anaheim, Long Beach, the Venice Canals, Farmer’s Market/The Grove....but really, LA has always been another city to me (sorry Angelinos! No offence intended).


At least.....until this trip. Whilst I cannot say that I love LA any more, I can say that I'm beginning to see the light.






It dawned on me that I learn to appreciate a city when I watch a sunrise.






After 25 years of visiting LA, would you believe this was my very first time watching sunrise in this city?






I've never really liked city smog but it was truly amazing to see how intense the sunrise colour was as a result of smog.






I kept watching until I could see the city skyline emerge from the inky blue of the sky.






I think I said that we were on one of the higher floors. Our room was along the Highland side of the hotel and the view was a pretty decent one.







Aside from the city view, we had a view of the Hollywood sign. This sign had been one of the things on his list to see. Small wonder that DS was more than happy to sit in the room and relax. All he had to do was look out from the comfort of the room and tick this off his list.







As I was discovering an appreciation for this city, I also realised.....Orange truly is the New Black on this morning! Who would have known that something as simple as sunrise could be so beautiful to watch in Los Angeles?







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[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


Graumans in the Morning



It was our last day on this holiday and there was still a little sightseeing that we could do in the area. So, with the promise of breakfast, we all got ready and headed on out.


This vending machine made me laugh.






Check out the items in there. Only in Hollywood!






I had thought we would head to grab a bite to eat before doing anything but DH had other ideas. He figured we needed to get some more tourist shots in first.






There are times where DH does surprise me.






It had been a good call on his part.






At this early time of the morning, there were only a few tourists like us around.






We all got in empty shots of Graumans.






And I got to look at these doors to my heart's content without having to weave in-between anyone else.






We also took the time to look at all the hand and footprints in the slabs.













For the record, my hand and feet did not really fit in anyone famous.







They were all too big....or too small.






I have to admit that I had hoped for a perfect match here.






In the end, it was all gawk value.







The names in the cement slabs here were dizzying!







I definitely had stars in my eyes.







We did take a look at this area after breakfast. It was wall to wall tourist buses. I’m so glad DH pulled us here first!




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[PrincessInOz]

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25 Degrees in the Morning




Last night, DH and I thought we had found the perfect place for breakfast.







Last night, the interior might have looked a little dark from the outside, but the breakfast menu had enough on it to suit all of our tastes.
25 Degrees seemed to come with a decent enough rating on Trip Advisor, Yelp and UrbanSpoon when I did the google search to make sure. It seemed that they are more known for their burgers than for breakfast. But we figured it was worth a visit for this morning.






It must have been too early for most. We were the only people in here so the service we experienced was excellent. Our drinks were promptly delivered.






As was breakfast. DS decided on the buttermilk pancakes.






With lots of real Vermont maple syrup.






DH went with the oatmeal and three berry topping.






My choice was the pick of the morning. The waffles were amazingly good.






25 Degrees is located at the ground floor of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.






I guess this is one of those party hotels from the glamour days of Hollywood. I did take a look at the reviews on Trip Adviser but staying here just didn't appeal to me at all.






But whilst we were there, we did take a look in the lobby area.






The paintwork on the ceiling was beautiful!






I also headed up to the mezzanine level for a different view of the lobby.






I can well imagine the stars from the Golden Years of Hollywood partying in this hotel!






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[PrincessInOz]

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The Hollywood Walk of Fame



The Hollywood Walk of Fame comprises more than 2,500 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California. DH and I had walked the three blocks of Vine Street many many years ago and it was time to take a look at some of the names around Hollywood Boulevard.

In truth, there really was only one star I was looking for.






With so many names now recognised, it is easy to just take a walk down the street and remember the names in the sidewalk. I think we walked for about 5 or 6 blocks on either side of the Hollywood Boulevard.

It took me a while to realise that the brass logo in the middle of the stars were slightly different. I eventually figured it out!

Movies.






Television.






Theatre.






Music.






Radio.






DS eventually found one that he liked. We did see the Mickey Mouse near Graumans but I seemed to have missed a picture of it!







We spent some time inside the Hard Rock Café looking at the memorabilia inside....







....before walking back to the hotel.







Despite the tourists, it was less of a zoo around here today than yesterday.






The Hollywood and Highland Centre seems to attract the tourists to visit. They all congregate up on those walkways.






In the daylight, I took a closer look at this place.






I was amused by the mosaics in that Road to Hollywood series. I couldn't think who this first one was.






But there was no problems in identifying the second one.






Okay. The boys weren't that interested in the mosaics, so we kept going.







We headed on up to the main tourist attraction spot at the Hollywood and Highland Centre.






It was easy to spot why people come here.













There are a number of other attractions in this area. Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Hollywood Museum and the Guinness Book of Records to name a few. As none of us wanted to go to any of the other tourist traps around this area, we headed back to the room to get ready for the rest of the day.

 

[ACDSNY]

It's been forever since we stopped and checked out Hollywood. Those were great family pics and your son is at such a fun age.

 

[mvf-m11c]

A very nice morning while walking in Hollywood and seeing the footprints, Walk of Fame. Breakfast at 25 Degrees look very nice.

 

[tiggrbaby]

How great that you got the area all to yourselves!

 

[dolphingirl47]

The sunrise was beautiful. You definitely did your sightseeing the right way round. I can't believe how empty everything was. That hotel is so beautiful, but I am not sure either if I would want to stay there. I felt much the same about the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego.

Corinna

 

[franandaj]

Wow! Rope drop strategy really does apply everywhere!

I'm not really fond of Los Angeles either, but it is kind of cool to live in close proximity to something like Hollywood. When we were going to a lot of shows, I enjoyed walking down Hollywood Blvd and checking out the various stars and folks names. Of course I always kept seeing the same ones.

About the differentiating disciplines. There are people with multiple stars, one for TV, one for movies, and so on....

I think the first Academy Awards were held at the Roosevelt Hotel. it's a nice place, but I haven't wanted to stay there either.

I was sad to see the soda fountain had shut down. I wasn't aware of that. Oh well.

 

[jedijill]

What a fun time in LA/Hollywood! Glad you had a great time even though it was a bit crowded due to the award show. Funny about the producer in the elevator!

Jill in CO

 

[PrincessInOz]

It's been forever since we stopped and checked out Hollywood. Those were great family pics and your son is at such a fun age.

Thanks Angela. I liked the family pics we got here as well. Pity we didn't see anyone trustworthy to hand the camera over to for one of all 3 of us.

Perhaps you'll stop in and check out Hollywood sometime soon.

A very nice morning while walking in Hollywood and seeing the footprints, Walk of Fame. Breakfast at 25 Degrees look very nice.

Thanks Bret. Breakfast was really tasty that morning.

How great that you got the area all to yourselves!

As soon as I saw how overrun the place was an hour later, I was really pleased DH made that call. It was fantastic to be able to enjoy it without bumping into anyone else.

The sunrise was beautiful. You definitely did your sightseeing the right way round. I can't believe how empty everything was. That hotel is so beautiful, but I am not sure either if I would want to stay there. I felt much the same about the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego.

Corinna

I think there are some grand hotels in the US that are beautiful. We stayed at one near Miami some years ago and it was really a wonderful stay. Have you stayed at the Hotel del Cor? I'd love to....one of these years. Unlike the Roosevelt, I think the reviews are pretty good for this hotel.

Wow! Rope drop strategy really does apply everywhere!

I'm not really fond of Los Angeles either, but it is kind of cool to live in close proximity to something like Hollywood. When we were going to a lot of shows, I enjoyed walking down Hollywood Blvd and checking out the various stars and folks names. Of course I always kept seeing the same ones.

About the differentiating disciplines. There are people with multiple stars, one for TV, one for movies, and so on....

I think the first Academy Awards were held at the Roosevelt Hotel. it's a nice place, but I haven't wanted to stay there either.

I was sad to see the soda fountain had shut down. I wasn't aware of that. Oh well.

Rope drop definitely paid off for us.

Yes, I can see why the first Oscars would have been held at the Roosevelt. It just feels "Hollywood", doesn't it?

What a fun time in LA/Hollywood! Glad you had a great time even though it was a bit crowded due to the award show. Funny about the producer in the elevator!

Jill in CO

Thanks Jill. Staying where we did was probably the right move given what DS had wanted to see. It allowed us to be really relaxed about being there and not have to worry about parking or anything.

And the Mexican Billboards were a real novelty for me. I thought it was fun to see it in full swing.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I think there are some grand hotels in the US that are beautiful. We stayed at one near Miami some years ago and it was really a wonderful stay. Have you stayed at the Hotel del Cor? I'd love to....one of these years. Unlike the Roosevelt, I think the reviews are pretty good for this hotel.

No, we have never stayed there, just visited for a look around. You are talking to somebody here who got a full-blown panic attack the first time I stepped into the Grand Floridian. It was just way too fancy for me and I felt complete out of my depth.

Corinna

 

[PrincessInOz]

No, we have never stayed there, just visited for a look around. You are talking to somebody here who got a full-blown panic attack the first time I stepped into the Grand Floridian. It was just way too fancy for me and I felt complete out of my depth.

Corinna

I see. Sorry that you get into a panic.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Guess What! It's Another one of those DisMilestones



Ninety Thousand Posts. I'll be in 6 digits the next time another one of these milestones comes round!


This post represents my 90,000 post on the Dis.
And as has been my custom to do, here's the accounting of this achievement.


So, assuming that there was a minimum of 40 seconds between each post....


I have accumulated the following numbers:

• 90,000 posts, which if I assume the 40 second rule, amounts to a minimum of
• 3,600,000 seconds spent on the Dis, which translates to
• 60,000 minutes, which translates to
• 1000 hours....or rather....
• 41.67 days

If we round it up, that's 42. We have the answer to life, the universe and everything!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day 28 and Finally! Some Shopping



Where were we heading to?






Yes, it was a more expensive shopping mecca than heading to the Camarillo Outlets but on day 28, we really didn't feel like too far a drive. Besides, we had half a day to kill and Westfield Century City has enough diversity for us. There are over 100 stores in this complex, which includes the anchor stores of Bloomingdales and Macy's, and my staple favourites of Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew, Zara and H&M. Money and I did change hands on this day. I ended up doing the bulk of my shopping in Macy's. I think there was an up to 30% off weekend special and I came home with the work clothes I was after.


We did eat lunch here as well.






Like a few of the stores in the mall, the food court seemed to be a bit more up-market than most.






DS and I knew exactly what we wanted.






Fat Chips!






The burger was pretty good too.







DH was also happy with the choice. I think he got something disgustingly healthy as well.







And we also indulged.







Yum!







We easily spent over 4 hours in the mall. And it was finally time to head back to the hotel (we had arranged for late checkout), pack the shopping and grab a final shower before starting to make our way to the airport.



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[PrincessInOz]

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A Quick Stop on the way to the Airport



Did I mention that DH likes looking at instruments? Well, he does. And we had not been able to stop in at a music store at all until now.

I had done some googling and realised that there was a Guitar Centre very close to Hollywood and Highland. So, we stopped in on our way to the airport.


We've stopped and shopped at a few Guitar Centres in our time and we thought we knew what to expect with this chain of stores.
I hadn't figured on the Hollywood factor.






The window display was amazing.






But the O-M-G factor was on the floor.




































I took more pictures here than outside Graumans!






And that was before we even walked in the store.






Someone was very happy!







We didn't have enough time here. But then, I suspect that even if we had spent the last 28 days in here, it wouldn't have been enough time for DH.



The sunset told me that it was time.






It was a wonderful sunset to ride off into.






Time to head home.




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[PrincessInOz]

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My Bags are Packed and I'm Ready to Go



Lately, we've been stopping in one of these before we fly home.






Afterall, it really is a great place for a light meal before we fly.


DS got the sushi.






I got some soup.






DH stocked up on yet more greens.






It was a satisfactory meal and it was sufficiently light enough for us that we didn't feel stuffed and we could still eat when we were served dinner (or was that lunch) on the plane.


It didn't take us long to get to LAX from Wholefoods and drop the car off. Check-in was also a non-event and we had a couple of hours until our departure time.


LAX is not my favourite airport and there's been a fair bit of construction here over the last couple of years. I was pleasantly surprised at the changes.






And there was one stall in here that both DS and I decided we were going to indulge at.






We had enjoyed our little snack at lunch so much that we wanted more. We were so glad to find the booth at the airport terminal.






And I was most amused to find that the 3 mini cupcakes cost me $0.75 LESS at LAX than at the Century City Westfield.







Finally....after 28 days....from Melbourne to SoCal, a road trip around the Four Corners area, family time at Pagosa Springs, the Gamers DisMeet at WDW, Mickey cheating with Harry at Orlando and back to Hollywood....we headed on home.







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[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It's a Wrap!



It's been nearly a year since I started writing this TR. When I originally started, I had no idea how long it would take me to get to this final point. If I knew, I think I may not have started at all. But start it I did and I've now gotten to the end.
During the last year, I've had the pleasure of reliving this trip through the words and the pictures that I took. More than anything else, it has been a past time that I've been able to escape into and suspend real life for a few hours each week.


The memories of this trip that will carry me through the rest of life are the 3D friendships that have formed on the Dis and solidified through the DisMeets.



































I will also remember the sunsets and sunrises, the richness of the deserts, the warmth of the sunlight, of being outdoors.



























































And above all else, Disney.

























Sitting here in the comfort of my living room, I do not know who is out there reading. And if you don't post a comment, I don't even know if you are enjoying it or not. My only measure is that ubiquitous "Views" number that indicates.....perhaps….there could be a few of you reading this.

Irrespective of whether you've been a 2D friend in a box through this TR or a lurker. The best thing about writing a TR for me is that I have the privilege of sharing my trip with you all. And it is a privilege; most definitely a privilege. I thank you all for reading and sharing in the fun with me.







Post Script

For those of you wondering what I'm going to be doing with all my spare time now, I do have a cunning substitute.

I periodically make a Mad Dash over to SoCal and will be making one of Mad Dashes in about a week or so. If you want to follow along....another TR....the link is here.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2614243


This one will be 9 days and will involve a lot of family, friends and shopping. One thing is certain. Have camera will snap. Have snaps, will share. Especially on the Dis. Hope to see you there!