LA...this is Hollywood!

Well our last gasp at being a tourist began in an interesting manner as the tour bus rolled in nearly half an hour late and our tour guide informed us that it was a "German speaking" tour! After finally being convinced that he was telling us the truth and with no alternatives available at short notice...we climbed aboard for a day with 25 German tourist.
LA was all about mirages....both heat and life...and Hollywood is the chief factory which we toured with occasional respites for the likes of the magnificent "Union Station" and its original decor , the "Biltmore" and the scent of Humphrey Bogarts cigars, motel where Marilyn's tryst started with a President...the viper room...the Voodoo lounge which entrenched the careers of the rolling stones and Jimmy Hendricks...but in the light of day they looked very average as we edged our way up "Sunset blvd".

It was "Hollywood Blvd" that was a real highlight...the Stars, the Chinese theartre,the "Dolby" Theatre (formerly Kodak) home of the oscars and of course the "Hollywood Sign", all very exciting but far too rushed. So as we made our way back to our hotel we past through "Rodeo drive", so small and definitely not a "Champs elese".
So as we left our dysfunction tour we came to the end of our unbelievable journey...now we only had to negotiate the security and pat down at LAX before we were truly on our way home.