Tuesday 9 November 2010

The City of Angels?

Maybe I was tired by the time I got here.

I am in Los Angeles and I am really trying hard to get enthusiastic about the city.

It is a big place and I don’t know it well, so I went to see the obvious places. My first stop was Rodeo Drive and yes, the shops were nice enough, the people looked very well off and the cars people were driving had gone up a good few notches compared to other places I have been.

I did find a statue I liked – the body of a naked woman – on Rodeo Drive. This is called "Torso" and is by sculptor Robert Graham. I took photos of all angles of this statue and I decided not publish here the view from the front. It leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. Not that I am a prude, indeed far from it, but every detail is right there! I mean EVERY detail, so here is the rear view....


























Here are the Leading Ladies on Rodeo Drive. They didn’t ask to be bought anything! 10 ladies in probably the most exclusive shopping area in the US and nothing was bought for them!....


























I stopped outside the famous Beverley Hills Hotel....


























I liked this statue, but it was right outside an office building,and the picture would have an ugly background, so I had to find a way of just photographing part of it against the sky....




















I went to see Hollywood Boulevard....




















This is Grauman's Chinese Theater, outside of which is where many famous stars have left imprints of their hands....


























From 1953 these are Marilyn Monroe’s handprints....





















And those of one of the world’s most famous dancers, Fred Astaire....




















I looked at some of the stars set along the sidewalk.....

As she is on my bike, I have included Vivien Leigh’s star....




















Peter Frampton, because I like his music....




















For his brilliant role in the World’s fastest Indian, Anthony Hopkins....




















Well, just for being Ozzy Osbourne, he had to go on my blog....




















And of course Marilyn Monroe, because she is such an icon....




















I wanted to find a good location to take a picture of what is probably themost famous sign in the world. It is tricky to find somewhere good amongst all the houses....




















I of course I wanted to get my bike in at least one picture of the sign....


























I tried to ride up to the sign itself and I knew that this was possible, but the police had shut the road to prevent people driving up there. This didn’t help to endear me more to LA, so I headed back to my hotel. It had been a long day struggling in the traffic, waiting for the weather to improve and generally getting nowhere!

Try as I might, I didn't spot any angels. Or anything close.

I did find one bright spot and that was a very cool barbers shop called Floyd’s on Hollywood Way in Burbank. I decided to get my haircut and found this wonderful mural painted on the side of the salon....














































A very cheerful and chatty young woman called Karly cut my hair and I couldn’t help but admire her tattoo’s, so I asked her to sit on my bike for a picture....


























I think my son Jeremy would really like Karly!

I have sometimes wondered about getting a tattoo myself, but I can’t think of anything that I like enough to commit to my skin for the rest of my life. One day I might think of something!

Something very special that I knew had been possible for a long time was going to happen the next day, so I went to bed full of anticipation! I was going to see something that not many have had the chance to see.....

12 comments:

iansolley said...

I agree LA is not a great place - saw this video posted on FaceBook and thought of you.

http://www.vimeo.com/1455935

Unknown said...

Gary: I think that you get the same feeling as ourselves when visiting highly populated areas. We usually take our vacations on the roads less travelled, where traffic is light. I dislike lining up for anything and stopping for signal lights. Your trip is nearing completion and now you are surrounded by people & traffic instead of the serenity of beautiful places where you can be alone and think about the beauty of the landscape. You should have ended your tour in British Columbia (or Oregon)

thank you for keeping us hanging on . . . can't wait until tomorrow

bob
Wet Coast Scootin

FLHX_Dave said...

I was right there. Although I was spending time with my son down in San Diego. It was a good visit. Honestly? Hollywood just bummed me out on my first visit in a way. I can't get out of LA fast enough and I'm always down that way. Interesting place to visit though!...just once. lol.

You can email me the front of that statue though! Tattoo? Alot of people just get a tat to say they did it. They usually have no idea as to what they are getting inked or the reason as to why...that is a shame. Tats should be something that means something to you. It should tell a story about your life...just my opinion. If you are going to have it for life then you might as well have it tell about your life.

SonjaM said...

I have been twice in L.A. and couldn't connect with this city. I did the same as you did and took pictures of the 'usual suspects' of tourist attractions. I like the torso, and the mural though, good catch!

Geoff James said...

Gary:

LA was good when our kids were little for Disneyland etc but otherwise, I don't really care for it and from NZ, it's simply a transit point for somewhere more interesting. When I was working in the Southern States, one of my American workmates said "LA isn't part of the USA, it's just plain weird". That always stuck with me!

Rob said...

I went to LA for the first time back in March. It was a bit high speed for me but so amazing in its own little ways.

redlegsrides said...

Gary....LA, not on the list of places for me to visit....this was before your posting, now reinforced.

As to the Torso statue's front side, I think you would have been good to go, after all, the thing is out on public display.....public mind you, not pubic...which then again, it is as well. ;)

As to tomorrow's activity, if its what you alluded to before, I can't wait!

dom


Redleg's Rides

Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

Oz said...

I think LA would be a great place to visit if about 75% of the people were not there :) There sure is a lot of traffic there.

I am anticipating your next post. You have me curious.

BeemerGirl said...

HI Gary, I can understand the aversion to the speed (or lack thereof), the traffic and the people. But it will always hold a bit of magic for me. Of course, to this day I don't want to go back and deal with the aforementioned. There are some good things, as you have found. Try the Griffith Observatory. Might help to put a good polish on the end of the trip.

Bluekat said...

I'm not sure that I'll ever visit LA. Haven't been there yet, and really don't have a burning desire to go. I much prefer the road less traveled. I like the handprints and signatures, and the mural is a nice find. The sculpture is beautiful. I love the detailing of the muscles along her back. Figures can be challenging to do. Funny, that Rodeo Drive looks abandoned in the photo. I thought it would be busier! :)

Gary France said...

Ian – That video is amazing. I might put it on my blog after my tour has finished!

Bob – It has taken going on this tour for me to realise that despite being a city boy, I don’t like cities any longer. You are correct – it is a shame I will end my tour in a big city, which just doesn’t seem right somehow.

Dave – I am in San Diego now – my first time here. I e-mailed you the front view! While I like the idea of a tattoo, it’s not for me.

Sonja – That is a very good way of putting it, not being able to connect with the city.

Geoff – I tend to agree- LA isn’t quite like anywhere else.

Rob – Hi speed, yes!

Charlie6 / Dom – When I had my pictures of Sturgis, I wondered if topless shots would be ok to post, so I checked. There are no hard and fast rules, but if somebody complains, you blog can be taken off-line by Blogger while they investigate, which can take a long time, so I didn’t want to risk it. I agree with you about it being public anyway, but you never know....

Oz – Take 75% of the people away and I still think I wouldn’t like it.

Beemer / Lori – There is some magic, but compared to say San Francisco, I would ignore LA every time. I didn’t have time to go to the observatory, but thanks for the suggestion.

bluekat – I was in Rodeo Drive early on a Sunday morning, that is why it looked quiet. There were certain things in LA that I liked, but overall, I won’t be rushing back. There are so many other great places nearby.

Eve said...

I'm glad you didn't show the front of the statue...to have it that blatant just doesn't seem like art to me. I'm thinking I wouldn't much like LA. I would much prefer to be out in the mountains and plains of the US. But it does seem so fitting to bring The Leading Ladies to Hollywood!!