3rd April 2012
Today we are on the Amtrak Double Decker Starlight train to San Francisco having left at 10.25 we arrive tonight just after 10pm – long trip but at least we can move around the train and take in the view. We’ve just left Los Angeles after being here a couple of days enjoying the sites, food and the (sometimes scary) experience of travelling around on the public transport system (Metro and Rapid) buses. I swear, every time we jumped on a bus there was always someone happy to take up an issue with someone else, thankfully not us, and over the smallest things.
The night was fairly cool at around 11-12 degrees but bearable. The next morning was beautiful and we ventured into the CBD, take some photo opportunities and see some sites. We took a bus and trolley ride around and before we knew it was 4.00pm, we jumped on/jumped off all day for the total price of a $5.00 pass for 24 hrs. Queensland Transport could do with some lessons here – Lesson 1: don’t charge the user a fortune to ride trains, buses, ferries and patronage might increase. Tony wanted to dip his feet into the OTHER SIDE of the Pacific Ocean which he did and commented on how freezing it was. The lack of people in the water could have alerted him to that. We also wanted to get a photo of sunset over the Pacific Ocean, but cloud cover dashed that. Instead we jumped on a couple of bicycles and rode down to the Pacific Beach pier where there are about a dozen cottages, with car parks actually on the pier.
The waves were about 8-10 ft, and with every wave the pier moved underneath. Makes you wonder if those living in the cottages feel like they live on the Duyfken full time. Bit scary actually. Pacific Beach reminded us a little of home particularly the Sunny Coast back in the day but with bars, more bars, cafes, drinking holes, a few more bars and Liquor stores, Oh! and the surfer folk milling around. It was a nice place to be with little lane ways leading to beach huts. We had a conversation with a guy who had been to Oz, so he could relate to us a little, fond memories anyway. He also had a patent for a bicycle I seriously want to get (check out the pic) with the brand name of "Rusty Spokes".
On Saturday morning we headed back into the Greyhound terminal and unknowns to us Security had been ramped up ie the bag check, body swipe then questions about aerosols, alcohol and WEAPONS !!!! The bus arrived late and seats were scarce, and really grotty, (thankfully) for some folk they had to wait a few hours for the next bus, not us we were wanting to get out of that CBD as soon as we could. The bus had originated at Ysidaris, on the border and with most passengers, family groups being Mexican. All good until we arrived at a border check where everyone was asked to produce Passports, IDs etc. Border patrol took their time checking everyone up and down the aisle until next thing we know one bloke is being escorted off the bus, hands behind his back. All this took about 30minutes after which time the driver was told we could move along. The guy sitting next to me told me that the bus was late because they were looking for someone at the main US/Mexico border – I guess they must have found him on OUR bus !
We just can’t believe these Freeways, 6 lanes in each direction, with the occasional “Car Pool” lane as an extra and nearly every second driver is
We spent most of the day there enjoying some warm weather before we hit San Francisco where it is expected to be around “Freezing” and a chance to wear thermals. In conclusion, we survived LA !!!!
The good and bad of LA:
The good - The public transport staff were really helpful in giving us the best directions to get to different places. The variety of food is good, cheap, but everything seems to be Supersized – it’s true. Even the strawberries are supersized (must be on Steroids).
The Bad - LAPD Helicopters flying around most nights – must have been some more ‘situations’. The poverty and ‘pan handling’ is in your face in the Downtown, whereas just down the road you have the rich and famous – very sad.
Hi there again ! Thanks to everyone for your emails and comments, we love them so keep them coming. We promised you a Blog from Tony about his food and drinks reviews in each place we visit. Check out the link and add it to your favourites - http://tjsfoodanddrinksrtw2012.blogspot.com/
The trip so far:
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| The Viewing carriage on the 10.25 from LA to San Francisco |
Picking up from where we left off last en route to San Diego – our first impression was a bit scary. We arrived by Greyhound at the Transit centre which caters for buses and Trolleys (trams) at Imperial & 12th around 8pm and on the way saw police street blocks, cop cars everywhere and was only around 1-2kms from the bus stop. As Tony called it – it was a “Situation”. We saw many ‘situations’, the next was at the Bus Stop down the road. Whilst asking for directions, an inebriated lady butted in and said something smart (must have been our accents), but ignored her and we moved along. Within a minute or so a police officer came walking over to where she was sitting, she cussed him, next thing he had called for back up and was putting the handcuffs on Miss Inebriated when we came back towards the stop. Welcome to San Diego! Point to note here – San Diego is only about 32 kms. from the Mexican border and Tijuana, the biggest border checkpoint in the States, so pretty much security/police can be pretty hard going and so does the poverty.
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| San Diego Trolleys / Trams |
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| Cottages on the Pier at Pacific Beach, San Diego |
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| The Original 'Rusty Spokes' bikes - cute huh ! |
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| Border Security Checkpoint outside of San Diego |
Just another “situation”.
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| 6 lane highway - Vegas to LA (excited to see snow) |
talking/texting driving at 80 MPH. We jumped in a cab, gave the driver the address and so happened took us to the wrong accommodation but with the same name. The issue was that Alvarado is so long, divided into North and South, that he dropped us at the wrong end. According to the hotel manager it happens all the time so she rang us a cab to get us to the right one. While we are waiting, some guy starts causing a ruckus outside one of the rooms, the hotel managers husband races off over, starts shouting at this bloke and hastily removes him off the property and threatening to call the police. Apparently, someone had booked the room then other people move in, start drinking and carrying on. You could imagine what was going through our minds right then! We couldn’t get into the cab fast enough and driving down Alvarado we wondered if the next one would be any better because the areas we were going through were somewhat dubious. As it turned out it was great – we were around the corner from all sorts of eateries and bus right on Sunset Blvd.
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| TJ and Snoop Dog |
After a good nights sleep we headed off to Hollywood where we picked up a LA and Hollywood tour, Beverley Hills, Melrose etc. Tony was interested in the size of the Hollywood sign, originally erected as the HollywoodLand development is 90ft High, 27ft wide and total length of the sign is 107 yards – I think only because he related one of those sizes is the same as a Rugby League football field. All measurements and weights here are still the old Imperial measurements – don’t know what it is converted in Metric – all I know that is huge. The sign was rebuilt in the 1980’s with the sponsorship of some stars ie. Alice Cooper bought one of the ‘O’s and Andy Williams bought the ‘W’ for $27K each. We saw Haufmans Chinese Theatre with all the hand and feet imprints, including George Clooney, Abbot and Costello (NO – not the politicians), Michael Jackson, Twilight and more.
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| Michael Jackson's prints (wonder whose little hands those are ?? ) |
We saw where some celebrities lived, and that’s all because the fences are so high, famous signs and sights, including impersonators and of course the Star Walk including Mohammed Ali's, which was on the wall - because you cannot walk on Mohammed. All fun!
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| End of Route 66 on Santa Monica Pier |
The next day we headed to Santa Monica Beach and Pier with the fun fair on top, also the Santa Monica Pier is where Route 66 ends. Makes for a good Trivia question.
We spent most of the day there enjoying some warm weather before we hit San Francisco where it is expected to be around “Freezing” and a chance to wear thermals. In conclusion, we survived LA !!!! The good and bad of LA:
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| Strawberries on Steroids |
The Bad - LAPD Helicopters flying around most nights – must have been some more ‘situations’. The poverty and ‘pan handling’ is in your face in the Downtown, whereas just down the road you have the rich and famous – very sad.
Would we go back there again soon - probably not!!
Our next post will be from San Francisco ...... til then.
Our next post will be from San Francisco ...... til then.
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| Twilight Prints - Taylor, Kristen and Robert |
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