18th October 2009
Our last day in the States and we were determined to see the Hollywood sign before we left. We took the Mulholland Drive scenic road to a view point overlooking the Hollywood Bowl and downtown LA (rising out of the smog).
Then we went to the Hollywood and Highland Shopping Centre which is another good place to see the sign and also includes the Kodak Theater and Mr Mann’s Chinese Theater, so we relented and parked up to wander along Hollywood Boulevard, where Claire found Anthony Hopkins (from Port Talbot!) and we popped into Mr Mann’s Chinese Theater to star spot the hands and signatures in concrete.
We continued onto Venice Beach, which is (accurately) described as a ‘freak show’ in the Lonely Planet. Vastly different from its upmarket Santa Monica neighbour, we walked along its pier where family groups were fishing off the edge. You could just make out Santa Monica Pier in the distance. Then we walked along the boardwalk, past the hollowed out concrete bowls that formed the skatepark and the fast food and souvenir shops that lined the walkway.
A final meal at the Cheesecake factory, followed by a slice of Oreo Cheesecake. I think we’ll miss it :).