Greetings from Reno NV, supposedly known as 'the biggest little city in the world'. I'll recap a little from our past week...
Los Angeles
LA was really what we expected it to be. Big, dangerous, souless, crazy - a one of a kind place. We had a look at Santa Monica Beach (which has nothing on Aussie beaches!) and kept a lookout for the Baywatch chicks. There were none to be seen unfortunately. Walked down to Venice Beach which is where the famous boardwalk is, full of crazy roller bladers, buskers, dodgy characters trying to sell you everything from artwork to genuine Egyptian papryus, crazy stalls, vollyballers, homeless people, and local hip hop playa's pleeding with you to listen to their new tune and buy a CD (burnt of course!) as they just signed a recording contract with sony and will be famous in a month! Near this boardwalk is Muscle Beach - a sort of outdoor gym meets beach where all the buff American's work out in front of all the crowds. I resisted the urge to jump on the bench press and show them how an Aussie can lift, instead opting for the $3 hamburger shop down the street. This was my favourite part of LA, really vibrant and well.... distinctively wierd.
HB and I caught a bus into downtown LA (so next time we watch Law and Order we can yell 'been there!!') and onwards to Hollywood Bvd. This is where all those stars are immortalised in the pavement either in big stars or by having conrete moulds done of their hands and feet. Had a peak in the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are held every year, but considering I think I've only watched them twice it wasn't as amazing experience as it was for the Japanese tourists next to us! Walked onwards to Sunset Bvd where all the famous clubs are (inc. the Viper Room where River Pheonix O.D'ed). Went inside the original (and first) Hustler store started by Lrry Flynt - potentially the only non-dodgy/seedy adult store in the world.
Random LA observations:
Price of one Wendy's BLT burger - $1.07. Price of two large apples - $3.50! However, bananas are at 49c/lb, suckers!!
Squatters and homeless people sleep in hotel and hostel lobbies, kitchens, wherever they can. LA feels very rich, and very poor in places, im glad Australia doesn't have the same range of problems... yet.
We decided after this day in LA that we would rather be in San Francisco having a wild time. So, we hopped aboard the Amtrak train back up to SF and upon entering the dining car said hello to Jose, the same bartender who kept us entertained on our way down to Santa Barbara. This time our wallets were feeling the pinch but we still kept him company for a few hours. Even though the train is more expensive then the bus, and slower, you are always guaranteed to meet some interesting strangers and this time it was an ex-vietnam vet called SJay who gave us plenty of laughs. Upon arriving in SF Tony and I found Sams Hamburgers, an awesome little hamburger shop that had been open for 36 years and was obviously a locals hangout (did feel a bit seedy at first but hey).
On Monday, Tony took HB and I down to the Haight, the birthplace of the 'summer of love' hippy festival in the late 60s. The hippys are still there and its an immensely interesting place to visit. It's right next to Golden Gate Park which is huge, at least 15 times the size of the Domain. Was a funny afternoon, after we encountered these hippys who had 'rescued' a chicken from chinatown and were letting it loose in the park. Shenanigins followed.
