This is my fourth visit to LA.
I first came here in 1994 as part of a self-funded university thesis research trip. I interviewed a lawyer and former FBI agent about a spy trial for my political science thesis. When I first visited I was a deer in the headlights university student with not much money. It was so overwhelming coming to the United States on my own and it was my first overseas trip. I was a young woman travelling alone so it was a scary experience. Also I drove on the freeways here - and at the time, while I had a driver's licence, I didn't own a car, so I hardly drove. It was a hair raising experience. I ended up on the wrong side of the road on the 405 South. It worked out okay. I have quick reflexes. That said, I was pulled over by one of the California's friendly CHIPs dudes - who I have to say, looked like the gay policeman from The Village People - the dude had a gnarly mustache. When I explained I was a hapless jet-lagged Australian, he let me off with a warning and offered to buy me a drink. I guess not gay after all. Declined the drink and went on my way.
This trip I was accompanied by my wonderful Viking husband and decided to stay in East Hollywood at The Hollywood Hotel, which has been a good choice.
LA is a fun place but it really is La-La-Land particularly if you are staying around the Hollywood Boulevard part of town, which we are. Hollywood Boulevard is full of the usual amount of hustlers, homeless, paparazzi and crazy people as well as the recruiters for the Church of Scientology who are dressed like parking valets and ask "Have you heard about that wonderful book called 'Dianetics'". After I rolled my eyes at the kindly parking valet, he got the message and moved on.
My husband took selfies outside their creepy blue 'Church' while I was off at the gym. I was a little concerned that he might disappear and wake up in a bathtub full of ice with his organs or his checkbook missing. Nevertheless, he survived unscathed.
We did another studio tour, this time, Paramount Pictures, in the rain. Our "page" Alexa was lovely - she was another out of work wannabe actress who was doing the "page" job at Paramount as well as a number of other jobs - she was a server at an after party at last week's Oscars - she was Frances McDormand's server - she advised us. She was a nice, pretty, chirpy girl from the Midwest, about 5"9 and a size zero - so there is every chance she could make it big in Hollywood, except there are a million other young boys and girls also doing exactly the same thing.
Since my last visit, Hollywood has become "Hollyweed" - as I think just about everyone under the age of 40 is partaking and it is not just medicinal. You can smell the noxious weed smell everywhere you go in public. There are also a lot more people smoking - including those horrible vapes. Whose idea was that? Vapes - just another way to get cancer. That said, a packet of cigarettes costs about USD5.00 - in Australia it is more like $40 a packet. Big tobacco and the gun lobby are making a killing.
I also think some of the homeless - who are numerous in tent cities - are becoming more creative in their panhandling - some of the better signs I saw today "Hungry stoner needs money", "My ex wife had a better lawyer" (a yuppie homeless holding this one) - although, I totally appreciated the sentiment and felt like donating money just for that reason, and my favourite saying simply, "Fuck Trump".
Anyway tomorrow we fly to Vegas - a whole different flavour of crazy there. Hoping we don't get shot.
If you like my posts please resteem and upvote
Cheers