From Hollywood to Melrose

I should actually begin by saying that yesterday I saw Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Street Prominade and took a wander down Main Street checking out all the little shops down there. I had a great day and walked heaps. Santa Monica Pier was fantastic to see, but what I liked the most was looking north to the cliffs and hills around Malibu. Totally gorgeous.

But the best part of my trip so far happened this morning. I went into Hollywood and saw the infamous Hollywood sign with my own eyes. Insignificant to some, I'm sure, but to me this was a 20 year dream come true. I am not afraid to admit that as I stood there tears came to my eyes at a dream realised. When I was 12, all I wanted to do was act (cliche, I know). But I did. I was so very passionate about it. I studied drama all through school and my two dear Drama teachers supported me the whole way through. My dream was always to go to NIDA to study and to hopefully make it big. Then in Year 12 I continued my drama studies but it got a lot harder and my beloved drama teacher retired and he was replaced by an English teacher. We didn't gel from the start, he was a teacher I had never liked and having him teach my favourite subject came as a real blow. Less than a quarter of the way through Year 12, just after I had out countless hours of preparation into my exam (which was a monologue performance) he told me that I was not good enough to persue acting. I was ugly he told me. My whole world came crashing down and I quit the subject and went on to complete Year 12 and high school with my dreams of NIDA shattered. So today when I saw that sign, what it meant to me came flooding back. How one person crushed my little confidence and ended a dream. Had I been a stronger person back then, I would have continued regardless, but I wasn't, so it all fell apart. I must have stared at that sign for half an hour today before I decided to walk thru Hollywood along Hollywood Boulevard looking at all the stars on the pavement. I kept walking. And walking. West along Hollywood Blvd, down along Sunset, all streets I have dreamed about for years. I walked all the way to Melrose Ave.

On Melrose I had a true LA moment that made me laugh. I was in Marc Jacobs looking at handbags and saw one that I absolutely loved. I asked if they had it in black. The sales assistant looked it up and said they did indeed have it in black and he would get it to show me. A few moments later he was back as he could not find it. 'Maybe it's in the window on the mannequin' he said, so he went to look. When he came back in the chick assistant said (total American drawl) 'oh ya know, I think Winona has it on loan' .... 'oh that's right she does' he said. 'Winona Ryder you know. I can get it back of her for you if you like. Her assistant just drops back stuff whenever ya know' ... I had to laugh. It's okay, I said (like I want a used handbag!!! I don't care if it was used by Winona, I wanted my OWN bag). Also, how come she only loans it??? She has waaaaaaay more money than me, she could have bought it with change no doubt. Anyway, I bought a different one, same style just smaller, then I got the guys to call me a cab. While we were waiting we got chatting and before I knew it they had drawn me maps (including directions to where tha paparazzi hang out!!) offered me water and champagne and told me all the cool places to check out. Was well worth the visit.

This afternoon I had a pedicure and a manicure (including the best arm and calf massage ever) then wandered down to Macy's (which looks EXACTLY like Myer) to buy another suitcase so I don't have to worry about not being able to fit all my stuff in. Now I am having a glass of wine and watching the sunset. Tomorrow I think I will visit the Getty Centre and drink in some of the arty side of California.

I really do love it here :D