Our Big Adventure: Day One -And we're off!

Video Diary - Day One

Hasta la vista

Today, we set off half-way across the world on our big trip. It was a reasonably early start with Gen getting a last-minute rabies shot in Wellington this morning and several odd-jobs to be done before our flight to Auckland and onward to LA at 4.

Nonetheless, we got away to the airport with plenty of time to spare.



Because of the recent terrorist activity, we were worried that we might be held up for ages in security. Now although security was tight, bodies were examined, shoes violated and love-handles patted, it wasn't all fun and games. Well yes it was, there was wine too... being the swanky V.I.P travelers that we are.

We arrived without any dramas at all at LAX at around 10 am on the 29th which was earlier than we'd left so we got to live the whole day over again, totally like Groundhog Day. Only cooler. So we used our second chance at Tuesday 29th December 2009 to see the big ticket sites of Hollywood. Our hostel is only one block from Hollywood Boulevard, so we set out to find some tacos for lunch. Sadly we (to our immense surprise) did not see any celebrities at Baja Fresh but we enjoyed our meal all the same.
After lunch we took some of the obligatory 'Hollywood Sign' photos, seen here. The fuzzy white line in the background is the Hollywood sign. Don't blame us, it was hazy. A wee bit.
After that, we strolled down the Boulevard, and tried fitting our hands and feet into the imprints left by the movie stars outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Here is Gen with Judy Garland - a perfect match. Coincidence? I think not. (Gen adds that, furthermore, they both like painkillers. Libby adds that Gen is joking. Gen adds that she is not.)
Here is Libby with Dean Martin. They are nothing alike. P.S. See Ma? My nail-polish has nearly grown out, just like I said it would.
The lookalikes parading around were quite creepy. It was quite surreal to see two Charlie Chaplin's chatting together, and Michael Jackson wandering off with Marilyn Monroe.
We cruised the Walk of Fame looking out for some big names. Patrick, this one's for you: Gen poses here beside the star for Judge Judy. We got some funny looks stopping for this one, but we see nothing humorous about the greatest legal mind on earth. All class, Judy, all class.
We found a really neat diner for dinner. We played Guess Who while we had some drinks. Libby won. (It was Carl).
Here is our feast. Delicious.

After tea we wandered back to our hostel. Tonight will be a quiet one, recovering from the journey and preparing for further adventures tomorrow.

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xoxo Gen and Lib