Today we are going on the Hop On and Hop Off bus.

Having searched the brochures we have decided that the best way to see the sights is to use the bus - Hop On Hop Off. We bought a 24 hour pass each as there are three different routes that you can do and we have several days here.

So it's off to Rodeo drive by cab to catch the bus.

The Red Loop (Hollywood) 2 HOUR LOOP: Chinese Theatre, The Grove/Farmers Market, Walk of Fame, Kodak Theatre, Route 66, Rodeo Drive, Paramount Studios, Beverly Center, Shopping on Melrose, Sunset Strip, Pink's Hot Dogs, La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA, Petersen Automotive Museum, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood and Vine, RockWalk

Off to McDonalds so Gai cound have lunch,(extremely rude girl there), and then off to find a Hot Dog for Clive. We walked for ages, but his mind was made up - genuine Hot Dog. Gai finally saw a sign that said "Hot Dogs" - yes!
After lunch we checked the Bus Map and decided we would go on the Purple Tour which took us to Downtown LA for a 2 ½ hour trip.

The Purple (Downtown Los Angeles) 2 HOUR LOOP: Chinese Theater, Olvera Street, City Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the historic movie theaters along Broadway, the Los Angeles Central Library, Staples Center and the L.A. Live entertainment district, Grammy Museum, Fashion District, Jewelry District, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market.

This was a single deck open top bus. We saw blankets on the seats and wondered what they were for. We found out later!

This was a really great tour. They are very concentrated on what film stars appeared in, what shows and movies and which buildings were used - some shows not necessarily filmed as LA - for e.g. CSI Miami was filmed in LA and not Miami.
Apparently this is because of the good weather most of the year round in LA.

We stopped half way through this trip and had a break then on to the Freeway to go back to the Hollywood stop. It was freezing by this time (about 6 pm). The sun was still out but the wind was so cold on the freeway. This is when the blankets came in handy. Gai was so totally rugged up !

Melrose Avenue.	We're off.	The dome was beautiful.	The Museum Tar Pits.Old bones have been discovered here.
Johnnies Coffee Shop - one of the older buildings.	The Grove & Farmer's Market.	Smile Gai.	The CBS building.
An interesting shop front.	The bill boards are huge.	The "Hollywood' sign.	The new entrance to Paramont Pictures.
This is the old entrance.	The 'fence' of Paramont.	One of the studios.	Hollywood Forever Cemerty.

Hollywood sign.	KTLA - one of the olderst radio stations.	Sunset Gower Studios.	Nikeledon Studios.
Pantages Theatre.	World of Records.	You name it - they'll get it.	Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Egyptian theatre.	The Wax Museum.	The Kodak Theatre.	Now where is Kermit The Frog ?.
Golden Arches in the distance.	Clive enjoys a hot dog.	It was delicious.	Clive photographing the pavement !!.
Julie Andrews.	Kevin Costner.	Spot the real STAR.	Celine Dion.
Disney Studio Store.	The stairs or the escalator.	Found it - Kermit The Frog.	Gai & Elvis.
Walt Disney.	We bought our souvenirs here.	Hollywood United Methodist Church.	Robin Williams.
William Shatner.	Time for the Purple Route.	Grauman's Chinese Theatre.	Cross Roads of the World.
The CNN Building.	Amoeba Music.	Even the advertising is so big.	Chase Bank has a lovely entrance.
These trees were in flower.	After 4.30 your car will be towed.	Another interesting building.	A fountain in MacArthur Park.
Another view.	The old signs are getting fewer.	Now that's a freeway.	Another view.
An interesting building.	HSBC bank.	Engine Co. Number 28.	An old fire escape.
A new Hotel.	The Marriott Hotel.	One of only two tunnels in LA.	Banks of solar panels.
LA Superior Court Building.	An interesting building beside the freeway.	China Town in the distance.	China Town.
China Town shopping entrance.	It's very clean and pretty.	Golden Dragon arch across the road.	Another building.
Time for a stop to stretch the legs.	Get you kicks on Route 66.	Statue of a Spanard.	Engine House No. 1.
The Rotunda in the middle.	Pico House.	A Spanish style Church.	Some homeless possesions.
Another building.	Union Station.	An interesting shop sign.	More of Union Station.
City Hall.	City Hall.	New Police Headquarters with a reflection of City Hall.	City Hall.
The LA sky line.	Sculpture work on this building.	Broadway Theatre District.	Palace Theatre.
Palace Theatre.	Tower Theatre.	View down the road.	Braodway Trade Centre.
View up the street.	A beautiful murial.	Roxie Theatre.	Los Angeles Theatre.
Johnny Demp's penthouse.	The Ritz Carlton.	Another shot.	The Staples Centre.
Michael Jackson's funeral was here.	You can buy air space in LA !.	Lookig towards the Marriott.	The Original Pantry Cafe.
Another tall building.	LA Trade Centre.	The downtown LA Skyline.	The hills of LA.
Hollywood in the disctance.	A castle amongst the trees.	Travelling down the freeway.	Capitol Records Building.
Ripley's Believe it or not.	Roosevelt Hotel.	This statue is off four famous females.	Original House Blues club.
LA in the distance.	The Viper Room. Note the bricked up windows.	Fire Station No. 7.	Beverly Hills logo is a registered trademark.
Beverly Hill population is about 34000.	Another building.	Back on Rodeo Drive.	Another Hotel.
Plenty of stretch limos about.	Gai shopping on Rodeo Drive.	Hurleys Bar where we went for drinks at night.	Gai relaxing and writing in her journal.
Clive on the phone to Nan in OZ.