The weekend after Mom came to California, Betsy flew out for a visit. On Friday night after I finished working we decided to go on a bike ride with some people from work (sorry, no pictures). We rented bikes and then joined the group in Balboa Park. There were a few hundred people there! The ride was called Critical Mass it is held on the last Friday of the month all around the country. After riding through the park,
then downtown, along the bay, and through the airport, we managed to find ourselves separated from our group. We stopped near an apartment complex where some other "bikers" were resting and we asked them for directions back to the park then called the others to see where they where. Turned out that 2 of them had gone back to the hotel and the other was already back at the park. We took the guys up on their offer to accompany us back to the park and we enjoyed all of the conversations (and the company) the whole 6.5 miles back.
On Saturday we rented a car and headed to Hollywood! The drive took longer than expected due to a constant downpour of rain, but we were determined. After getting the "long way" directions that took us through Pasadena and past the Rose Bowl, we finally made it to Los Angeles hoping to catch a tour at one of the studios. It was we after got to Paramount Studios that we found out they don't do tours on the weekend. Never ones to miss the opportunity to explore, we decided to drive over to Hollywood BLVD and take in the sites. We saw several "stars" along the way; even had our pictures made with some!
We took a tour of homes that took us through the Hollywood Hills, Beverly
Hills, and Bel Aire. Due to inclimate weather, we were in a van for the tour, so Betsy took diligent notes and we were able to return the next day to get pictures of some that really held our interests. The whole ride, my thoughts were replaying the "I Love Lucy" episode where she does a tour of homes in Hollywood and gets trapped inside one. More on those later...
Hills, and Bel Aire. Due to inclimate weather, we were in a van for the tour, so Betsy took diligent notes and we were able to return the next day to get pictures of some that really held our interests. The whole ride, my thoughts were replaying the "I Love Lucy" episode where she does a tour of homes in Hollywood and gets trapped inside one. More on those later...After the tour, and in part due to our inability to fully appreciate it, we decide that 
we would stay the night in La La Land so that we could continue the adventure on Sunday. We entered the Hollywood Highland Hotel and Hostel right on Hollywood BLVD and turned over our plastic in exchange for linen. It was a little, ummmmm, different from the places I normally stay, but it was a cheap bed and we were together. After getting all checked in, we headed over to the Kodak Theater area for a quick dinner and then a movie at the one and only Grauman's Chinese Theater! It was very cool.
we would stay the night in La La Land so that we could continue the adventure on Sunday. We entered the Hollywood Highland Hotel and Hostel right on Hollywood BLVD and turned over our plastic in exchange for linen. It was a little, ummmmm, different from the places I normally stay, but it was a cheap bed and we were together. After getting all checked in, we headed over to the Kodak Theater area for a quick dinner and then a movie at the one and only Grauman's Chinese Theater! It was very cool. We grabbed some necessities at the local CVS and headed back to our home away from home to call it a night sometime after midnight. I'm still not sure how all of our trips together in California have us spending the night somewhere else unexpectedly and needing to purchase so many essentials, but I'm detecting a trend.... Obviously we survived, and quite honestly it wasn't that bad, but we slept very lightly and in all of our clothes - Betsy even slept with her boots on the bed!
On Sunday, we enjoyed Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, a quick 
breakfast at Starbucks, and one last stroll down the boulevard. The Oscar's were to be held the following Sunday and the whole street was a buzz with the preparation. Betsy and I got to have our picture made with one of the statues! Such a great opportunity, one of those right place/right times kind of things. At one point during our walk, I was too busy looking up at the Hollywood sign to notice the huge curb in my path and quite literally left my mark on the sidewalk. Although I ended up with some pretty good bruises to my knees, hands and pride, they were nothing that time didn't heal. Got a great picture out of it though (see picture at beginning of blog)!Once back on t
he road, we went to "Any Street, USA" (it's actually Orange Grove Street) which is home to many of the homes used for movies. Our favorite was the "Father of the Bride" house. It would have been great to be able to tour the inside, just to see how much was real, but since it is a private residence, we couldn't do that. We cruised the Sunset Strip on into Beverly Hills where I got to see Lucille Ball's former residence located on Roxbury street! Now that's a house I really would have LOVED to see inside! We made our way over to Bel Aire and snapped a picture of the "Fresh Prince" house, complete with the jockey statue out front. Then we cruised on over to Greystone Mansion - the largest home ever built in Beverly Hills and site of many movie scenes including Nicolas Cage's house from "National Treasure", Wayne Manor in the Batman movies, and home to the Green Goblin in "Spiderman" just to name a few. The mansion and grounds are now a public park. Look it up if you get a chance, it carries a very full history.
he road, we went to "Any Street, USA" (it's actually Orange Grove Street) which is home to many of the homes used for movies. Our favorite was the "Father of the Bride" house. It would have been great to be able to tour the inside, just to see how much was real, but since it is a private residence, we couldn't do that. We cruised the Sunset Strip on into Beverly Hills where I got to see Lucille Ball's former residence located on Roxbury street! Now that's a house I really would have LOVED to see inside! We made our way over to Bel Aire and snapped a picture of the "Fresh Prince" house, complete with the jockey statue out front. Then we cruised on over to Greystone Mansion - the largest home ever built in Beverly Hills and site of many movie scenes including Nicolas Cage's house from "National Treasure", Wayne Manor in the Batman movies, and home to the Green Goblin in "Spiderman" just to name a few. The mansion and grounds are now a public park. Look it up if you get a chance, it carries a very full history.
We dined on Rodeo Drive after some very pathetic window shopping up and 
down the street. With the restaurant was located just steps from Tiffany & Co., so we thought it only fitting to enjoy an adult beverage called Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was a delicious mix of champagne, orange juice and Chambord. From our table we had a great view of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. If you are a fan of "Pretty Woman", it's that hotel! 
Are you tired yet? We sure where, but we weren't quite finished... After lunch, we jumped onto Santa Monica BLVD and headed west to the infamous Santa Monica Pier. I love seeing someplace on TV or in a movie and then having the opportunity to see it "for real". We took our pictures at the end of the line on Route 66, then watched as a sailboat floated in front of the sun just as it was setting - gorgeous!!! We road the Ferris Wheel and strolled through the little amusement park before finally deciding to head back to San Diego. 
I, unfortunately, had to work Monday morning, but I was able to take a break and see Betsy off. I'm so lucky that my best friend is able (and willing!) to come see me on some of my work trips. Despite the problems I had on the job this time, I was able to escape some the the insanity through Mom & Betsy's visits and my friend Melissa who "rescued" me frequently.
