Hollywood and Vine

Perhaps the most famous intersection in all of Hollywood is that of Hollywood and Vine. Here are a few photos from that area.

To show I was really there.

Capitol Records is probably the most well known landmark in the area.

I liked the arched gateway.

Through that arched gateway.

A pastry shop.

And I don't remember the significance of the door, only that I liked it.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Another very well known Hollywood landmark is the Walk of Fame. You're heard about a celebrity getting their 'star' on Hollywood Boulevard - well this is it. Actually, many of the cross streets have stars too, not just Hollywood Boulevard. For more information, follow the link in the Landmarks I've Visited section.

An interest metal thing greets the visitor.

Start.

Now that's a lot of terrazzo.

Sidewalk.

I took many star photos, but I liked these few the most. No captions necessary.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard

Everyone has heard about Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and everyone has probably seen it in a movie or could at least recognize it. One might think it cliche or touristy to go there, and it probably is. But it's a historical landmark and it's well worth it. Follow the link in the Landmarks I've Visited to get more information.

Thousands of people every day come to see the theatre.

I think I spot some odd characters in the crowd.

Looking more closely, I see I was right. I think I see Gandalf.

Closer in on one of the towers.

Another angle on a tower.

Before the Hollywood Walk of Fame, we had cement imprints at Grauman's. Here's Cary Grant's spot.

And Shirley Temple.

Here's Gangalf.

And Homer Simpson, too. That donut looks hideous.

Hollywood and Highland

Of course when you're in Hollywood, you must go to Hollywood Boulevard. This is the first of several posts from that famed thoroughfare, with photos from Hollywood and Highland.

The most well known landmark at Hollywood and Highland is the Kodak Theatre. You may have heard of it; they host a little show each year called the Academy Awards.

Close in on the Kodak Theatre.

Closer yet...

A grand staircase takes visitors into the theatre.

Past the stairs.

The area past the stairs features an interesting rotunda.

Outside the theatre, there are several columns with elephants on top.

A plaza outside the theatre.

Across Hollywood Boulevard from the Kodak is the famed El Capitan Theatre.

Not too far from there one can find Ripley's Believe It or Not! I spent a couple of hours in there, and it was fascinating.

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Dodgers vs. Padres

This evening I attended a baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Visiting were the San Diego Padres. Going to this game was one of the first events I booked while planning my vacation. I love going to baseball games, and Dodger Stadium is a great landmark.

I didn't take any photos at the game because I didn't know if cameras would be allowed or not, and I didn't want to take the risk of having it confiscated.

At any rate, it was a great game, and I met some great people in the stands. That's one thing I found in both of my trips to Los Angeles - contrary to what you might think, there are a lot of very nice people in L. A.

A Little Airplane Watching At LAX

OK, I've admitted it before that I am an airplane geek. When possible, I find a good perch to watch airplanes at the airport of the city I'm visiting. There's a most excellent spot at LAX, from which I took loads of photos. It's difficult to get decent close shots since the planes aren't exactly going slow, but I've included a few here anyway.

A Boeing 747 on final approach. It seems so low.

Ah, it British Airways. Maybe someday I'll be able to take photos at Heathrow.

The British Airways 747 passes over the perimeter fence.

Yum. When I'm in L.A., I LOVE going to In-N-Out Burger. What makes this perfect is that it's right across the street from my plane-watching perch!

A Northwest Airlines 757 passes overhead.

And finally, a pic of my LAX plane-watching perch. As you can see, I'm not the only one.

You May Not Recognize This Griffith Park

Everyone knows about the observatory and planetarium at Griffith Park, but there's a lot more to it than that. I hiked at trial leading to a place called Dante's View through some beautiful country. It's hard to believe you're in the middle of a giant city. Follow the link in the Landmarks I've Visited section to get more information about Griffith Park.

One of those big flowering things that emerge from giant yucca-type plants.

Entry to 'Berlin Forest'.


Is an explanation necessary?

Haze obscures this view.

Approaching a bridge on the trail to Dante's View.

The aforementioned bridge.

A sign warns hikers about the water situation.

I saw this fenced-in tree in a movie after I'd been on this vacation. I thought it looked familiar, so I searched my photos and found it.

Los Angeles Vacation 2004

At the end of 2003, I took a road trip from Columbia, Missouri to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, I only had a few days in L.A., and I had a cold the whole time. I decided then that I must take a do-over vacation. Well, this is that do-over! The following several posts will include photos of places I visited on my do-over vacation to Los Angeles.

This isn't a landmark, or someplace I visited. It's the courtyard of the hotel I stayed at in Hollywood. Actually, it was the Ramada Hollywood Hotel on Vermont. It wasn't five-star or anything, but it was clean and comfortable. Besides, I wasn't in Los Angeles to hunker down in a hotel room.

Yeah, you know you're in L.A. when the car rental agency features Lamborghinis. This was at Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car. This was a branch office, though, on Sepulveda just up from LAX.