Searching for the stars in Hollywood

I felt that the trip to Los Angeles was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, so I vowed to make the most of it. Even if that meant being a typical tourist. So, I bought a Marilyn Monroe t-shirt from Macy's and signed up for a double decker bus tour of Hollywood.  (www.starlinetours.com)

I was ready for a cheesy, narrated tour. I wanted to see and do all that Hollywood had to offer! I wanted movie stars and wax museums and pictures and Rodeo Drive. And that's exactly what I got.

I was doing this bus trip solo, and never worried about safety or feeling out of place. Starline was very comfortable and professionally run.

Starline Tours offers a number of routes and passes and prices. I opted for the flexible, 24 hour "hop on, hop off" pass. It was $44. You just paid on-board and the driver was able to accept cash, debit, or credit cards. For my $44 I was given a pair of earbuds, a map, and a seat upstairs in the sun.

What interested me most was the TCL Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Walk of Fame. The TCL Chinese Theatre has also formerly had the names "Grauman's Chinese Theatre" and "Mann's Chinese Theatre."

The TCL was the Starline Tours "head office" and main pick up/drop off location. This was the only place I chose to hop off the bus and spend some time. As lovely as it was to drive down Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, I knew it was beyond my budget and I chose to keep my wallet in my pocket.

It cost nothing to walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I took several photos. The crowd was light that day and I had no trouble at all with street performers, or pushy sales vendors. There is also a 3 level shopping mall right next door. It's got plenty of eateries and popular shops, PLUS a view of the HOLLYWOOD sign in the distance.

I paused briefly at the stars which resonated with me. The beauty of the the walk was that there are actors, actresses, musicians, directors and such from all eras. I'm sure whether you are 20 or 75 you would recognize names and pause to smile.

Walking tour, Los Angeles

You simply see things differently when you're out walking and exploring on your own.  There is no taxi, bus tour or Frommer's Guide that can show you the city the way that an open mind and a pair of sneakers can.

I recently embarked on a street tour of Downtown Los Angeles. Some things were pretty, somethings were not. But everything contributed to the character of the area and gave me a really interesting perspective as a Canadian traveller.

I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves. The architecture, both of past and present, was incredible. And to see so many buildings being restored was encouraging. The preservation of history is important and for me, was heart-warming.

In total, according to my fitness tracker, I covered nearly 14kms on foot in 2 days. Though I also did accidentally (and later on purpose... to see the Ghostbuster's firehall) wander into the ghetto I did not stop to take photos. There is overt poverty, homelessness and even tent-villages in plain view, but I feel there is no purpose in objectifying the street people who struggle. It would only serve to disrespect human life to portray them here in a tourist blog.  So I won't.

Los Angeles, and Downtown LA specifically, is not all Hollywood glamour and riches, but you can certainly say that about any city.

Photos taken on an iphone, October 2015.

Back lane movie filming

Court House

Firehall from the 80s movie Ghostbusters

Opulent street entrance leading from the sidewalk

Through the window of a downtown office building. Marble everywhere!

Seriously!! What? YWG to LAX $314 includes tax.

Ok, I had to look at this three times and from three different sites, but it's true. A round trip ticket from Winnipeg, to Los Angeles for about the price of a night at the Jets' game.

$314

I'll say it again.... $314 Canadian dollars, including tax.

October 14-21, but many other great dates available through Air Canada.

You could take this flight from Vancouver for $256. So, Air Canada is willing to give you the round trip connection YWG to YVR for $60. Amazing.

I'm so excited by this find I think I smell burnt toast. Or perhaps I burnt my toast because I was so distracted by this deal.

I'll shut up now, so you can book this before it disappears.