Hollywood, California, United States

Oki doki, well what a full day I have had!

The room was full when I returned last night, but just with girls! In the bunk above me was a German girl (another german!) called Simone, who had just flown in. So this morning, some russian girls phone went off at like 7am and everyone pretty much got up, so i nicked my time in the shower, gay travel hairdryer made fluff hair inevitable but like whatever. Had to fix the laptop, somehow broke it, took like 20 minutes of switching on and off but whatever again. Was considering all options and looking at the Amtrak trains to San Diego – its only 2.5 hours away. Checked the weather for La and thats what swung it for me, sunny with just a chance of rain, while San Diego was 14, rainy and cloudy! Booked a night at the Santa Monica YHA hostel, just have to figure out how to get there! Checked out of our hostel, checked in my bags though so I could pick them up after going to breakfast with Simone. Wasn’t sure if leaving Hollywood was the right thing, not with the oscars in town, don’t really want to miss the amazing atmosphere! As we walked to starbucks (down the midde of Hollywood Blvd – as its shut to traffic!), decided that Id probably spend more of the day there, there waere all sorts of crazy camera crews and gorgous dresses around! Short mocha, obscene amound of cream – so much so that he gave me a large cup so i could have even more cream, banana and chocolate chip cake – wow, they need that in England for sure. Then we qued up, got scanned by the LAPD and we went to the corner behind the railings to see where the cars would be pulling up. The show doesnt start till 5pm, this is like 10am when we were there but there was lots of action despite that, all the presenters were ready and Penelope Cruz was there I think.

Simone turns out to be a bit of a star hunter and came up the idea of going to Chateux Marmont hotel to see if we could spot anyone before they headed down to the ceremony. The weather was great and we walked the length of Hollywood Blvd. Couldnt find the entrance at first! Then went in and up some stairs and got seated at the restaurant in the cool outside bit. We looked like tourists, it was pretty bad but we were treated v ery well! I saw someone mega famous but I don’t know her name or what she was in, which doesnt help. Had a fruit plate and an amazing mocha coffee. Then we walked back all the way along sunset blvd, almost to the hostel, then went back up and all around to try and catch a glimpse of the stars arriving at the Oscars. We got a pretty good spot but things are still really hard to pick out people behind the police, rails, other limos etc. Saw Keanu Reeves though, Melanie Griffiths, few others. Was a cool experience. Was getting a bit weak by the end at 5 though, had dinner in Mels drive through diner – amazing steak! So good! After that it was back to the hostel to pick up my bags to make the journey to Santa Monica! I needed 2 buses b ut one of the buses was from Hollywood blvd, which is clearly shut, so I had to walk all the way to Santa Monica Blvd to pick up the bus – pretty scary, weird homeless crazy people – honestly. Though the highlight was that I accidentaly found LA Ink (Kat von Dee’s shop) on La Brea, didn’t see anyone from the tv show through the window though, typical.

Got to the bus stop, started speaking to a german couple who live here and they helped me with my bus, lovely people! They got off a few stops before me, then a Scottish guy started talking to me – he’s on a round the world trip and will be driving across USA on a motorbike. We got off at the same stop but he is staying in Venice hostel. Found this hostel really easily, only had to walk one block. Literally only walked one block here but i can tell this has a much safer, friendlier atmosphere etc, clearly the place to be! I think I will be meeting Simone down at Venice tommorrow, we are quite similar in many ways!

Has been a full on day, feel like a proper traveller, just talking to people and moving around etc.

While Im typing this essay, I can hear the oscars on the tv in the other room! Must be Dick van Dyke, they are play mary poppins.

So, ive been to the oscars, get that.

Via | TravelPod

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