Hollywood

Before I forget what happened while in Beverly Hills, I will post about it.
We arrived here yesterday, flying into LAX, and after we settled into our room at the Beverly Hilton, we went down to Rodeo Drive. Very expensive shops, like Tiffany, Michael Kors, Gucci, all those famous shops the richie rich like to frequent. Saw some gays too. They are obvious (and swarming into Dolce & Gabbana), and saw some Barbie Doll girls with botox lips. I thought that Rodeo Drive is nice to see, but the products offered there are not really practical for us real people, aka soccer moms, if you will. Most of what was sooooo trendy, I couldn't see wearing it more than a few months anyhow, right after I finally paid it off on the credit card..LOL. I wouldn't mind having some jewelry from Tiffany's, their line of jewelry is pretty traditional and gorgeous, something to pass down in future generations. I will splurge on clothes and shoes if it is something classic in style that I can wear for years to come. But I can get that kind of stuff at Gap, or even TJ Maxx and Marshall's. If had a gazillion bucks, I would get myself some runway fashions and buy my family and friends this stuff, sure I would. But I am fine without it. Do I need a $1,600 dress? Does Jason need a $5,000 sportcoat? How about an $800 purse? I want what I like at TJ Maxx just as much as what I saw on Rodeo Drive that was my style.
Now, it's Friday and I'm in my hotel room now, just back from Hollywood, which is only a few miles from here, and a 20 dollar cab ride.
I rode down the Sunset Blvd, famous for the Sunset Strip, where there are some famous places there, like The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, The Actors Studio, and some little clothing boutiques. I didn't stop here, I wanted to get to Hollywood Blvd and see the typical tourist stops. Plus, I didn't see anything or anyplace I wanted to go into on the Strip, so just seeing it from the cab was enough for me. Also on Sunset Blvd, I passed some of the most beautiful and no doubt, expensive homes I have ever seen in my life. Each side road off Sunset Blvd, you can see well- manicured lawns and very big, but charming homes down the road, and each street has it own type of tree lining the sidewalks. One street would have the famous super tall, thin palms all the way down. The next road would have another kind of tree all the way down, so on and so on for each side road. I passed the Beverly Hills Hotel, HUGE, gorgeous place. One side of Sunset Blvd, you see the mountains in the distance, not too far away actually, on which where there were many homes. Gorgeous. Huge. Heavy on the architectural elements. Very visually pleasing. Very expensive.
Almost everyone I speak to has a thick accent. I can hardly understand some of them. One guy was from France. I came across him in Hollywood at the Kodak Theater, while I was trying to find a restroom. He cut in front of me and asked if I "vant tu try ze lozion on ze hands." Explaining to me how the lotion set has a scrub from "ze dead zee, where Jesus himsef valked." Nice stuff, zis iz troo, but I just NEED to potty! So I excused myself, then left the area in a different direction. Frenchie said he was going to "vait vor yoo" but too bad! Ze French are charming though, asking me if I was a model, actress, or singer, looking "alarmed" when I said no. What-ever!
I found a GAP store, with a maternity line inside, so I went in, and got me some cute duds, which I wanted to supplement what my friends have loaned me. The clerk was actually an American- accented young lady, and was real nice, so I chatted with her for a few minutes, and I was asking where is an Old Navy, cuz they have cute maternity duds too. (it was a few miles away). She asked me if I lived in the Valley. So I asked her if I sounded like I did...(not sure if that was a good thing or not)..she laughed and said not a bit! (explaining that there are more Old Navy's in the Valley).
So while I am in Hollywood, I am strolling down the Walk of Fame, looking at the stars on the sidewalk. These go on for a couple blocks. I will post some pictures of certain ones I like. There are characters walking around. I saw Chewbacca, Elvis, Elmo, Tigger, Jack Sparrow, Pinhead, Spiderman, Darth Vader, Super-Girl, Freddy Kreuger, among others, some of which I had no idea who they were. Elvis, played by a fat guy, approached me and asked where I lived. Then he said I must be the "Florida Flower." Some guys will say anything to make a few bucks! He wanted to take his photo with me, so I obliged, knowing Jason would like an Elvis pic. I figured he would charge me, but oh well.. He got another tourist to take the photo. I gave him 5 dollars. There was a street musician, complete with a bucket for tips. He was so cute though, posing for a photo for me, I didn't even tip him. I saw the footprints and handprints in the concrete in front of the Grauman Chinese Theater. Kodak Theater, right next door to that, is where the Oscars have been held (I believe???). It's got a high end mall, and some dining there, as well as a ballroom, and some movie theaters.
Tomorrow, I will get to look around with Jason. Maybe we can get to the coast, see the beach, and find the Hollywood sign. I wasn't able to find that today. I am tired right now, I can't do as much as I normally do on vacations because of carrying this baby. I will go to the pool now.