We checked into a motel just off Hollywood Boulevard so we were able to sample the delights of that area. Low lifes, beggars, pimps, prostitutes – it had it all! The whole strip is just a sleaze pot which, when you drive across the intersection which marks the boundary with Beverly Hills changes as if from black to white. You are suddenly greeted with beautifully manicured gardens, big houses (many surrounded with very high walls).
Next day, we did Disneyland (of course), and hit the jackpot. The combination of off-season and an overcast day meant a small crowd. We did all the rides, and the longest wait was about 5 minutes. Considering at peak times a 45 minute wait is normal, we couldn’t believe our good fortune. We all agreed Space Mountain to be the best ride, even though now it is one of the oldest, as I first went on it way back in 1984, and it still manages to get the adrenalin pumping. Even Karen, who hates rollercoasters of any sort, never mind those inside a dark building, went back for a second ride. We stayed to closing and watched the Disney parade. A pretty exhausting day, but after all it is “the happiest place in the world”
The following day the kids wanted to do Universal Studies. Both Karen and I had previously done this and had no real desire to revisit, so again, we dropped them off and decided to do our own thing. One of the main purposes of this trip to the US was to drive the famous Route 66 from LA to Chicago, and we decided to tick the box of the Santa Monica to Hollywood section. It’s only a few miles (yes, our American friends still use miles, gallons, feet etc), but it took us a few hours, due mainly to traffic.
Our final fling with LA was a visit to the Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre, and to look at one or two famous homes. I indulged myself and checked out Ron Howard’s home (to make sure other members of the Howard clan are doing alright). After looking at his house and the land it covered and the views it afforded, both Karen and I decided that Ron was doing ok for himself and would not need a handout from us.
Karen also got her wish in Hollywood as we were able to locate the house used for the outside scenes of The Brady Bunch
I had to take a few indulgences too, by tracking down the original ‘Batmobile’ from the 1960’s TV series, which now lives anonymously under a tarpaulin at the back of George Barris’ Custom Car workshop in Hollywood. Normally not available for public scrutiny, when I told them that I’d come all the way from Australia to see it, I suddenly took on celebrity status and was even allowed to sit in it and use the BATphone!
That was just the start of my BAT-adventures, as we followed that up on the way out of LA by stopping at the location of the BATcave, and of course Stately Wayne Manor, which unfortunately was surrounded by a very high wall and a very high security gate. I climbed onto the wall of the garden opposite to try to take some pictures over the wall. This still didn’t afford a great view, but I was pleased to see that LA residents are happy people as the guy living in the place whose wall I’d climbed on started waving at me, even with a shotgun in his hand. So I waved back and called out “God Bless America”.
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