After the calm that was Yosemite, we had a dramatic change of gear for the next two days.  We arrived in LA about 3pm and, having taken advice from the concierge, almost immediately hit the road again, sightseeing.  LA is an unusual city in that there really isn't that much to do in the city itself, it is very spread out and although they have an underground system, it is much more limiting than you would think.  We had two nights here so we really had to make the most of it.  We started out by heading out to the beach at Santa Monica, as this area is known for beautiful sunsets.  One the way we stopped off at one of the most important tourist sights in LA, the famous Hollywood sign.  The sign is in Griffiths Park, and not that easy to get close to.  We eventually found the viewing point and took the obligatory photos - the sun wasn't quite right as it was shining almost onto the sign as it was late afternoon, but it worked OK.

 The sign is just visible in the background - there was a steep ledge behind us!

Next stop Venice Beach which is an interesting area to say the least.  It is full of street vendors, ageing hippies, and there is a definite smell of dope in the air!  Here in California, the use of cannabis as a 'medicinal drug' is legal and boy do they take advantage! There are 'dope doctors' on every street corner wanting to prescribe the 'worlds best natural medication' for just about any ailment under the sun.  When you read the cards they hand out, it seems that there is nothing that can't be cured by smoking dope!

Venice Beach is also known for it's outdoor gyms, the most famous of these being 'Muscle Beach'. It was fairly quiet when we passed, but I managed to get a few shots for the ladies! 

 One for the ladies!

Santa Monica Pier is just what you imagine, and reminds you very much of the pier in Blackpool, albeit slightly warmer!  There are numerous game arcades, fish and chip restaurants, and also a small fairground area. We ate dinner here before returning to the hotel.  As we had very limited time, this was all we really saw of Santa Monica, until we drove out to the coast when we left LA.  There is a lovely town centre area with large pedestrian shopping areas as well.  John was quite pleased we went in the evening, as had the shops been open, with three females in tow it could have been an expensive night out!

 

 The bright lights of the ferris wheel

 Frankie doing her best Forrest Gump impression outside the restaurant

The next day we hit Universal Studios for a full day of rides and shows.  John had a welcome day off driving, as we were able to get the underground out to the park. The attractions are a mixture of shows, tours and rides, although at times it was difficult to tell which was which.  The first thing we did was the studio tour, which is a tram ride through the actual stage sets in use right now.  They were filming a new TV show, as well as an episode of CSI while we were there but we didn't manage to spot any stars. The studio tour takes in famous sites such as Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives, the Bates Motel from the film Psycho, as well as the more recent air crash site from the Tom Cruise movie, War of the Worlds.  In addition, there is a 3D King Kong experience and a ride into the tunnel from the film The Mummy.  Both of these experiences involved us getting wet and splashed, a recurring theme throughout the day, and were cleverly created using all of Hollywood's best special effects.  Whilst the park itself is big, there is still limited space and so to have a real roller-coaster would be tricky.  This being Hollywood, however, means that they can 'create' a  'virtual' roller-coaster, which is almost as good as the real thing.  The whole experience is quite strange, you sit in an 8 seater car in a small room, then the lights go out and you move up a level and then you are off!  There is a screen in front of you showing the 'ride'.  The car throws you about quite a bit as you fly down the tracks and you can even feel your ears popping and stomach dropping as you descend the steep drops, all from the relative (dis) comfort of a practically stationary car, very weird and very clever!  The Transformers ride was also similar and had you falling off tower blocks etc, whilst saving the world from certain disaster!  The were also a number of 'real' rides, such as the Jurassic Park 'log flume' where you were guaranteed a  soaking following the 84ft drop into a pool at the end - fortunately it was a hot day and the water was refreshing! 

There are also shows such as the animal actors show where they explain how they train Hollywood's furry actors, and special effects demonstrations as well.  Once you see how things are really done with computer imagery, it does take a bit of the 'magic of the movies' away.

 The revolving ball

Some attractions were part show, part ride, in that while we were seated in an auditorium watching a 3D 'Shrek' film, and also the Terminator film, the seats started shaking and moving and water started spraying around!

In order to see everything in the short time allowed, on our way back to the hotel, we stopped off at Hollywood and Highland to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Gruman's Chinese Theatre for more photo opportunities.

 At the Walk of Fame, which stretches about 15 blocks in total.

 Gruman's Chinese Theatre

 

 John trying out some hands for size

The last 'must-do' on our LA list was a walk down Rodeo Drive, which we did on the way out to Santa Barbara.

 Girls in shopping heaven!