I think that Sarah took a few minutes to get used to sitting on the left and not driving, but before long we barreling along the freeway towards the Hollywood Sign.
Before we left home I programmed in a few of the popular vantage points into our GPS. Our route took us through some pretty amazing terrain, and pretty soon we came to realise that the Hollywood signs were on a pretty steep bit of hill. We got pretty close really, and after some obligatory photos, and a little more sightseeing, we found ourselves at Universal City - right near Universal Studios.
Feeling a little bit peckish, I decided to introduce Sarah to "In and Out" burger. Now, for those of you who know my mum - Christine - you'd know that she has an innate ability to get a car park wherever and whenever she wants, typically right out the front of places - not on the same scale as certain historical figures that can part water and such, but it sometimes seems that she can MAKE a spot on demand, regardless of how busy a place is. This is known affectionately in family circles as a "Chris Driscoll Park".
Well, we managed a "Chris Driscoll park" - thanks mum - right at the front door, and went in. It had been a few years for me, and I must say the double double cheeseburger was just as tasty as I remembered. Hit the spot nicely. As is more usual than not in American fast food places, the Coke was flat, and I must say, Sarah and I were amazed at how BAD these guys could make a potato chip taste. I mean these things were something else - almost like they were made from reconstituted or frozen spuds, and they hadn't put in enough water.. urgh!
So, we finished our flat coke, and our cardboard stick fries, gave Sarah's brother Joseph a call for his (18th) birthday, and fired up the wheels, and set off again. Destination Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, and Sunset Boulevard. The GPS did it's job once more, and before we knew it, we were rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous on Rodeo Drive. There we 1000's of tourists - just like us I guess - and I must admit, it was kinda cool just to be there. I found a replacement bright yellow convertible for Mr Bukva - a Rolls Royce - parked outside of Gucci with the hood down.
In case I haven't already mentioned it, it was 31 C and windy in LA, and the huge engine in the mustang seemed really good at making noise, but not doing much else - especially the seemingly simple task of running an air conditioner.....
With Rodeo drive behind us, it's off to Sunset Boulevard. Quite unremarkable really (unfortunately), and pretty much tired and ugly - just like the rest of LA IMHO.
Well, time was running on, and we needed to get on back to the airport, so a quick re-routing in the GPS and we're cruising back to the 10 and 405 to the Avis terminal.
Must say, that LA was just as windy, dirty and pretty much run down as I remember... and arriving back at the LAX concrete jungle wasn't much of a disappointment as we though it might be ... New York, bring it on!
After a parking the car in the line that said returns, and taking our bags out of the "trunk", AVIS decided that this line wasn't open anymore - despite processing the 2 cars in front of us, and the car next to us. So we were asked to drive to another line - after they shifted the car next to us so we could get out. And the return lady was quite grumpy when I made HER wait while I walked to 200 yards back to get our luggage. AAARRGGHH - didn't make much sense to me, but hey... we're in America. BE-COOL.
The check in line at Delta was quite short, and we were at the front of the queue in no time. The lady that served us must have been to Qantas check-in school, because she once again gave us seats that were not only different to our previously allocated seats, but once again, not together. I asked for an aisle and a middle, and she obliged, suggesting that we had an aisle and a window because this aircraft was in a 2 + 3 seat configuration in our row. Deciding that we were actually in good hands this time, I decided to accept her explanation, and we dropped our bags at the x-ray machine.
Aside: For those of you that haven't been through a US domestic airport since Sept 11, you may be surprised to discover that after checking in, and tagging your luggage, you'll be asked to wheel your bags to a makeshift x-ray machine, and just leave your bag in a pile of others for ground staff to process. Now, aside from anything else, this is quite disconcerting, as you're basically just leaving your bags in an un-secure area just meters from the taxi / drop-off area. There is a heightened fear that you may never see your bag again....
The security area at Delta was really quick, and we settled in for a Sam Adams and a quick rest.
Before we knew it - actually, it was and hour, but it seemed quicker - we boarded the flight to New York. Amazingly, it seems that Americans actually listen to the boarding staff when they call out line numbers... wow. That wouldn't happen anywhere else in the world I've been to, especially Australia..
Hour 29:00
After making our way to our seats, it quickly sank in that we were sitting in an Aisle and a middle. Sigh. That's none from 4 for the check-in staff... oh well. BE-COOL. We're both pretty shagged at this point, and I think that we both slept for most of the 5.5 hour leg to JFK airport.
Flying in to the East coast at night was something of a treat, as the city light are not only visible, but they create an amazing line of the coast - just like looking at Google earth in "night mode". wow, wow. There is a picture of it from the plane, but it doesn't do it justice. wow.
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