Los Angeles an Hollywood
Trips
10. March 2021
Manfred Goschler
mg210311
From the port in Los Angeles we took a shuttle bus to the airport, where we got into a rental car. The first few kilometers in a different car and in a different country always take a bit of getting used to, but with a GPS you can even enjoy a drive through a big city like Los Angeles, as it is relatively relaxed despite the heavy traffic. Nevertheless, you have to get used to a few things first. For example, the traffic lights at intersections are not placed in front of but behind the intersections. If the traffic is not regulated by traffic lights or other signs, there are no further right-of-way rules such as with us “right before left” but all drivers must first stop at the intersection. Then the crossing can be passed in the same order as the vehicles have arrived. This FIFO principle even works surprisingly well, since most drivers are relaxed and courteous.
We drove to our hotel near Hollywood Boulevard and saw many pictures of former stars from the “dream factory” Hollywood <picture 414> in the lobby. After we had checked in, we made our way to the Walk of Fame in the evening. Although it was only a few cross streets to get there, it was initially very quiet on the streets. Only directly on Hollywood Boulevard and even more in the direction of the Chinese Theater more of the glittering world of the film business did show itself.
The next morning we continued our tour of discovery. We had mostly started the day with an extensive “rush hour” breakfast with eggs, bacon, pancakes and coffee in a neighboring breakfast bar. There was a pleasant and fresh atmosphere in this restaurant, very motivating for a long day out. As is so often the case in a new city, we took an open double-decker bus again, which was accompanied by an experienced guide. We drove around Hollywood in the best weather. First it went to the Hollywood Hills.
Then later over the Sunset Strip to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. We also remembered with a smile some scenes from “Pretty Women”. It solidified the impression that films can influence people.
In Beverly Hills we stopped just in front of some famous stars’ houses. But there was no Tom Cruise, Larry King, Britney Spears, Kirk Douglas or Bop Hope to be seen. Instead we saw magnificent buildings that blended harmoniously into the landscape with lush vegetation and old trees.
That evening we happened to witness a film premiere on Hollywood Boulevard where Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley were announced. From the reactions of the crowd that had gathered around the Chinese Theater, we became aware of a person whom I would have identified from afar as Harrison Ford. A woman screaming euphorically next to us couldn’t tell us more about it either, but we learned from her Canadian husband that his wife always screams like that on such occasions. Maybe it was the same with the others and it wasn’t about the stars at all, just about partying in the crowd. Why not.
The next day we continued our exploration tour by metro to Universal Film Studios. There we encounter a colorful mixture of information events about the development of film and Hollywood, particularly spectacular film sets and other action points, as they may also be found in other large amusement parks. Shows, roller coaster, haunted house or “4D” demonstrations, where the acoustic and visual stimulus was enhanced by a 3D demonstration with additional effects, fog, moisture, movement of the chair.
On the same evening on the way back to our hotel, we met a large crowd at the Capitol and saw the well-known group “Arcade Fire” play there. Although we were not directly in the cordoned off area, we could see and hear this group well and stayed in the crowd to listen to this concert including some encores (include link).
We went on a few more tours around LA over the next few days, of which I would only like to talk about our tour to the Queen Mary.
