Choosing to do long term travel with your adult children can always be a challenge. This is the first leg of my trip after I retired with my youngest adult son. See what troubles we get into and what we learned along the way.
Having only ever been overseas once in my life for a short time when I was 20 years old I did not know what to expect with anything on this trip, let alone traveling with my 30 year old youngest son. You can see all the preparations in the previous article so now we are on our way.
Here is what happened on this leg of the journey!
Getting There
We flew from Brisbane to Los Angeles with Qantas and the service was great. They served delicious meals and they had a really good wine list including my favourite Brown Brothers white wine and I did have a few glasses to settle my nerves. Really liked the snacks the hostesses brought around, like ice cream, fruit and every now and then a nice warm towel to freshen up with. The entertainment was great too, after I worked out how to use it. Movies were up to date so watched a couple then decided to get a few hours sleep. Seemed to be very hard to get comfortable but I’d bought myself a neck pillow that was a scarf you wound around your neck and it stopped me waking every time I moved. Highly recommend it.
Woke somewhat refreshed and after breakfast was served and eaten, only had to fill out the Customs Form and wait another hour or so till we landed in Los Angeles.
Visa And Customs
After having my passport checked and not having to collect any other bags, we headed for Visa and Customs. As it was the first time we’d been to the USA we had to join a very long queue of people winding our way to the set of offices where we had our fingerprints taken and our Visas checked. We had obtained our USA Esta Visa on-line and printed it before we left home and with only our carry-on bags didn’t have any trouble getting into the USA. Yippee.
Accommodation
We walked out of the airport glad we’d worn jackets as it was a bit chilly, groups of people who’d just returned from the Caribbean (only wearing t-shirts and shorts) were shivering and waiting for taxis but we were lucky we had a free shuttle bus that took us straight to our hotel.
We checked into the Airport Hilton Hotel, which we had already pre-booked. Little did we know that we would have got it way cheaper booking on our own closer to the time. At the time I thought the foyer toilets were the grandest thing I had ever seen.
The hotel was very fancy and after a long flight from Brisbane Australia, we decided we’d better get a bit of exercise to try and get over the jet lag. I had my doubts about this plan, but my son assured me that it was a great way to get rid of it. We’d gained a day and arrived one hour before we’d left Brisbane. So I had a quick shower, fresh clothes and we were off.
Although my feet didn’t think quite so much, after we got lost in the streets heading back to the bus in the city. Apparently it was all part of my son’s plan…I think not. What is it with men and directions?
Mobile Phone
During the day we had to find a mobile phone, (or cell phone for some), as the USA and Australia weren’t on the same mobile network. This was before the days of talking on Messenger for free, and data was so expensive. We needed a phone to book different things or make enquiries. But as my son took charge of the phone I had to keep my eye on him wherever he went. He can be very sneaky sometimes, hiding and scaring me. He says its a heart starter.
New Camera
I’d bought a new camera before we left, but hadn’t got used to it. The memory wasn’t that big, and as I seemed to take a snap of everything I saw, stationery of not. Every night the pictures had to be downloaded onto my sons tablet, much to his general annoyance. It also took videos, but it didn’t matter how many times I tried to take one, the camera wouldn’t co-operate. Threatened to throw it in the ocean or bin many times. Modern technology and me just aren’t on the same page. Thank goodness my son is a techno wiz, should have counted the times he said “Give it to me”.
As the camera only came with one small square custom battery, this meant it was always running out of puff, meanly due to my itchy trigger finger. I had to got another 2 batteries and a bigger recharger. First thing I always had to do after getting back to our hotel was put everything back on charge and REMEMBER to take all the batteries with me the next day.
How We Got Around
Big Blue Bus
Bought a 2 day pass on this bus line. It travels around all the famous sights and you can get on and off as many times as you like. The buses crisscross and meet at the same place three or four times, so you can go in different directions. A two day pass works out just as much or even cheaper sometimes, than a one day pass.
Train
Got caught in a conversation with the locals on the train about what they thought of Obama as he was early in his first term at the time. What are those things you should never talk about? Religion, Politics and Mobile Phone choices.
Hotel Shuttles
Shuttles are usually free, but in the USA drivers expect a tip for handling your bags. (Actually everyone expects a tip.) Anything from $2 to $5 USD. So always keep some low notes in your pocket.
Tipping and Taxes
Because the minimum wage in the USA is so low, around $7.00 USD an hour, most staff expect a tip of around 20% of your bill. We gave 20% for really good service and 10% for not so good service.
Taxes were a totally different thing. Don’t be surprised at your first hotel bill. It’ll probably be 20% more than they originally quoted you due to all the taxes that are added. Government Tax, State Tax, Local Tax. It’s unbelievable and when you think you’re getting a bargain, always ask what the tax is.
What We Saw
My First Trip to Muscle Beach
Found some food and then hopped on the Big Blue Bus down to Muscle Beach. Walked down the boardwalk and watched the guys working out, people roller skating, dodged others on bicycles and kids on skateboards. Should have lights, so much traffic.
Tried the fish tacos and funnel cakes, wandered into a few of the little shops, including an authentic Indian Jewelery shop. Wondered if we should get a tattoo but decided not to.
It was a bit chilly but there were some strange outfits on the locals, and everyone seemed to have one or two dogs.
Wandering around the streets behind the beach we also saw the Venice Canals and had a wonder around where a lot of movies have been set.
Santa Monica Pier
Took the bus over to Venice and saw some of the canal waterways where so many movies have been made, and eventually arrived at Santa Monica Pier. More dogs. I think people must have jobs walking them.
Walked out to the end of the Pier, it was so windy, nearly blew the hair off your head, had a hot dog and coffee and decided that was enough and headed back to take the bus to Hollywood Boulevard.
Hollywood Boulevard
So many beautiful homes on the way in Beverly Hills, and very expensive cars everywhere, didn’t see any movie stars though. Passed the hotel where Pretty Woman was filmed, had my photo taken in front of the Beverly Hills sign and then headed to Hollywood Boulevard outside Grumman’s Theater to see some of the famous movie stars hand prints.
Rodeo Drive
While not really my thing it was another one to tick off the list and while these shops are now found all over the world it was nice to look at where so many movies had been based and get a real world feel for the place.
Food in LA
Tried a few fast food outlets, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Dunkin Doughnuts, Burger King, but found that Subway was a healthier choice and they always had a 2 for 1 option, so that was often our choice. And so much cheaper.
Ate my first very large pretzel from a little food cart. So salty. OK tick that off the list. And my lovely big plate of strawberry pancakes and ice cream. Yum.
People
As we wandered around the city sights we were surprised at how many people recognised our accent and wanted to know where we lived in Oz. Many of them said they had been there and others said they wanted to take a holiday Down Under. We found people very friendly and willing to help us any time we asked.
Moving On
As we were leaving to go to Las Vegas the next day, we took a bus to the Greyhound Depot to get our tickets. I thought people were joking when they said the suburbs can change very quickly, especially safety wise. When we arrived at the Greyhound Bus Depot there was barbed wire around the fences and gates, and across the other side of the street, homeless people and run down buildings. So different to the other glitzy side of town.
Before we caught the bus back to the Hotel we spent an hour of so in the Mexican part of Central LA, trying out the food, taco’s, enchilada’s, burritos and the local beer. Also picked up a few souvenirs, (but they had to be very light), you know the rules.
The next morning we boarded the Greyhound bus and headed for Las Vegas, stopping at Barstow for breakfast, and driving past the edge of the Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley National Park.