08 April 2006 Saturday

Everyone slept in.  We got out around noon and went to a beer and wine store nearby and got several beers to… research.   We headed into LA with our tour guides, Rachel and Ricardo.  Ricardo has pretty much lived in the area for a long time and knows his way around well.  We drove down Hollywood Blvd and walked around.  We walked down the “Walk of Fame” and saw many of the stars in the sidewalk, we walked in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.  The theater had lots of people in costumes from different movies out playing with the crowd out front, Homer Simpson, The Grinch, Pinhead from “Hellraiser”, and lots more that I couldn’t identify.  There were several street performers, playing music, dancing, a Michael Jackson impersonator, kind of a carnival atmosphere.  We drove up to see the “Hollywood” sign, got out and hiked up to get a closer look.  We stopped at one of Ricardo’s favorite “Watering Holes” for a quick beer and to get out of the crowds for a minute.  Next we drove down Sunset Blvd, Rodeo Drive, through Beverly Hills.  For dinner we stopped at the Redondo Beach Brewing Company (Andrew was born in Redondo Beach).