Blog 11 – Sweating it out in La La Land

As we boarded the plane from San Fran to LA Sam & I noticed the first passenger in the first seat in first class . It was Hilary Swank & with her (on the plane) were 2 little fluffy dogs.

On the plane.

Anyway, Hilary is small & really pretty. Our first star spot & we haven't even arrived in LA yet. LOL

Arriving at the Hotel, we are checked in & un-packing (I have literally just slipped off the bra) when total strangers use an access card to just walk in to our room. They have 2 rooms booked..their names are Sandra Bell & Samantha Bell. Hey also booked through the same travel company & have Aussie accents! I am tired & pretty pissed off so call reception to get upgraded – after much pissing about we get offered a lovely large room on a high floor but when pressed about the king bed (& I really had to keep asking about the bed situ) I am told that one of us will have to sleep on a roll out bed…so I flatly refuse the room & tell her..'Okay let’s discuss our alternate rooms & complimentary goods options’

They present us with a room nicer than the original, on a low floor, right near the pool & free mini bar access plus a $100 restaurant voucher that we share with the group that night . About ½ hour after checking in to the new room (now a full hour & ½ since arrival) a ceiling mounted light drops from the roof missing Sam’s head by a whisker! – I was on the loo, heard the crash & Sammy saying 'OH MY GOD!’..another call to reception etc etc THEN – last night on using the ATM In the lobby I am charged $20 more than the amount I withdraw (as my travel card is set to USD, I should only see a small local ATM fee, not international exchange rate at all)…Another trip to reception & Gianna & I are suddenly sipping free wines in the bar..so you get the drift that has not been my fave four days ever nor my fave hotel - the staff have been extraordinarily apologetic & helpful post each incident but sorry Beverly Garland you will be getting a very accurate report on trip advisor.

Finally after checking in we head down to the pool where B1 & Ash, who arrived from /Adelaide earlier in the day, are waiting for us. We sit around the pool in the searing heat sipping cocktails & having a nice catch-up. From just us two at the beginning three weeks ago, then the addition of Gianna in San Fran, we’ve added 2 more to make 5 peeps on this trip now. Last night we received with word of B2 getting into LA tomorrow (instead of meeting us in NYC Oct 8^th) so we will have the full team together here….that’s a nice surprise & we all can’t wait for her to join us!

The last 3 weeks have flown by & it feels like another time altogether that we stood on the verandah of the ship marveling at icebergs & snow/ice capped mountains…we need it to slow down…it needs to go slower . I am already feeling quite sad about being ½ way through. Like grieving the end of my trip before it’s here.

Anyway enough of the morbid stuff & back to today in LA…the 5 of us spent yesterday on the hop on – hop off buses checking out the general town. Now, I knew LA was not going to be somewhere I would miss when I leave it, so I am not shocked by my 'meh’ attitude toward the stars on the pavement, the blocked off roads for premieres or the over-tanned, huge lipped women but I am surprised by how much it reminds me of Cannes in the south of France (I hated Cannes!)…it’s a bit too Chapel Street for my liking – although I have seen some HUGE second hand stores that I wish I had time to scour!

On the subway, some rappers/dancers performed for our ‘enjoyment’ & sought donations for the entertainment…I thought ‘come my way & ask for money & I will jump up, start singing then demand my own fee’ LOL but they passed me by…(bummer)

Ash, B1 & Gianna spent the day on Rodeo Drive & Sammy & I continued on the open topped bus, found the Beverley Centre & paid another little visit to Macy’s (no purchases this time!) – it’s 32 degrees in LA – which would otherwise be a ‘normal’ kinda day at home but it feels like 45…it’s been a while since these pasty white Aussies have seen this level of heat, having just come out of winter at home & bloody freezing in Alaska, we are feeling it – we have had enough at about 3pm & head back on the bus to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, pop in to the ‘LA LA LAND’ souvenir shop for a couple of little pressies then jump the blue line bus to Universal Studios where we meet the hotel shuttle . As I am not joining the rest of the team for the studio tour tomorrow I get back off the bus & take some pix for my Sisters.

Sammy & I arrive back at the hotel approx 4:30pm, we are hot, tired & desperately seeking voddy & oops! by the time the others return to the hotel we are a little ummm well…sloshed LOL..we have started to sing show tunes, laugh at each others’ jokes & scoff chips…bahaaa…I don’t care as I am taking a day off tomorrow but poor Sam has to be up early to make the first hotel shuttle!

It’s Monday now & I am soooo relaxed that I am about to have a nanna nap…I have had a delicious pedicure, long hot shower, ran a treatment through my hair, got all our washing done & popped up to the shop for a few more supplies. This is a lovely lovely day & I am going to make the most of my ‘me’ time!

Tuesday & I wake feeling really crap so decide that another day around the hotel is the right thing for me . I get a call from B2 saying she’ll come to our hotel & play with me today…OMG I am soo excited, I have really missed her & Sonia..we spend a lot of time together & I am missing my lovely Ladies!..OH man, another call from B2 tells me a cab is about $180 return from where she is so we decide she should stay there, at her hotel & we’ll meet up tomorrow in NYC.

The rest of the day for me is probably going to be spent on some more body ‘re-con’, maybe a giving myself a new hair colour then a nanna nap. I am so pleased I decided to take yesterday & today out for myself – I have had really bad flu twice in the last 2 months & no real time to rest & recover. As I head toward 50 I do find that finally, I am being kinder & more gentle on myself…maybe this ‘ageing’ thing isn’t as bad as we all once thought!?

LA out, Sandie xo


Los Angeles

Hot today for our arrival, 38 degrees . Again Delta on time & Hilary Swank & her two puppies were on board with us. As we head into North Hollywood on our Super Shuttle I remember just now spread out LA really is. But soon enough we get to the hotel & find Bel & Ash by the pool where we have several cocktails to commence the next leg of our journey. How I love a cocktail! We decide to have dinner the hotel restaurant & have a reasonably early night but I’m only managing an average of 6 hours a night at this point. A few hiccups at the hotel but nothing serious that can't be fixed. 

Sunday & our first day of hop on/hop off bus tour. The hotel shuttle to nearest metro station, subway ride for just the one very long stop & we get above ground onto the Hollywood walk of fame & Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. It’s hot again today & the tourists are out in force. As are the hawkers trying to get you into their shops or the wanna be muso’s trying to hock their CD’s on the street. A con being worked on every corner of a city that crushes more dreams than it manifests . Breathe deep peoples, we in Hollywood!

Been here 4 weeks & I still get a kick from hearing all the different accents. And they seem to get a real joy out of meeting crazy Australians. Everyone is very polite & helpful & at first I thought it was because America has become so politically correct in not wanting to insult anyone but it’s actually a very nice change. Everyone is very courteous & respectful & I feel this is heartfelt & not just lip service. There’s always security or someone available to help everywhere you go, didn’t feel the least bit worried about navigating the subway. It’s clean & convenient & the first time we had to purchase the metro card & try & work out the machine but after that we were old pros & it was easy.

The bus takes us past Chateau Marmont, the Viper Room & Whisky a Go Go then down Sunset Blvd to Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive which is very close to the Beverly Whilshire Hotel, hello pretty woman . The stores all look amazing & the cars that are driving up & down mind blowing. Ash spots one that he says is worth about a million dollars, only about 100 made worldwide & hurries over the other side of the bus to try & get a photo. Sandie & I stay on the bus to the Beverly Centre & the others double back to hang out at Rodeo Drive. Had a look in probably the biggest souvenir shop on the planet back on the strip before making it back to the hotel for dinner.

Monday is Universal Studio day & Belinda, Ash & I are off first thing and get there before opening at 10am & we there till closing at 6pm. Went on all the rides & because we had a front of line pass didn’t have to line up for anything so we got to see the whole park without rushing. Only time we had to wait was to get lunch. Was hot but seemed that every ride or show we went to we got wet which was very funny. And the park had big fans that sprayed mist on you & mists everywhere you lined up with drink & icecream vendors all over the place . Was a fun filled day & I love every minute of childlike fun.

Tuesday we back on the bus & work out way down to Santa Monica Pier which is much cooler & a beautiful beach that stretches for miles. Perv at Muscle Beach with all the healthy people working out & a walk to the end of the pier that I don’t think has changed much in 50 years. Has an old style arcade parlor that has all the old 80’s games we used to play & a Zoltar fortune telling machine that reminds me of the movie BIG. Breathing deep all that fresh sea air as LA can be very smoggy but we’ve actually had very clear days. Takes us ages to get back to the hotel so I feel I’ve earned my next cocktail.

Back to the airport Wednesday after breakfast in peak hour traffic (so very glad I don’t live here) we arrive in plenty of time to catch our flight to New York. Very excited to be on the way to cross off the no 1 think on my bucket list. Happy days!  

Much love Sammy xxx