The TMZ

I slept in, and had to succumb to getting a taxi to Grauman’s Chinese theatre where my Grand tour of L.A starts. The tour started late (never a good sign) and for some reason we got on the bus only to get off it again to start the tour at Grauman’s, where I already was! I checked out the celebs who have imprinted their hands and feet in cement outside the theatre. Everyone from Marilyn Monroe to the Ocean’s Eleven boys, to the Harry Potter gang. Interesting to see what big feet George Clooney has. ;)

Back onto the bus, only to start the driving portion of the tour when the bus speaker system breaks down. Awesome. At this point in time I am seriously considering dropping the tour and doing my own thing. I stuck it out longer and decided to leave it half way through. First stop was the Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood Bowl is an outside amphitheatre very popular in summer for bands and orchestras to play. It reminded me of Monty Python at the Hollywood Bowl. Back onto the bus enroute to walk of fame and Sunset Blvd. Much like most tours that fit a lot into a short period of time, we don’t get to see anything for more than about 5 seconds. I saw the Viper Room, Chateau Marmont, House of Blues, The Standard Hotel, and the list goes on. Waaay too quickly to see much. Next stop was Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills is such a nicer area of L.A. I can see why celebs spend their time there. You start to see ‘yummy mummies’ suited in Gucci and cars not to be purchased for under 100K. The tour went along Rodeo drive. Jimmy Choo! Versace! Prada! Armani! Such decadence. I see the store that Vivien was kicked out of in Pretty Woman only to return later and tell them what a mistake it was not to wait on her. We headed past City Hall and the Beverly Hills police station, very reminiscent of Beverly Hills Cop. It’s another really hot day, perhaps late twenties in temp, so I’m loving being in an air conditioned bus at least. We head past LA County Museum of Art, where I was wishing I had time to check it out and the tar pits.

Next stop was the Farmer’s Market for lunch. It’s at this point on Wilshire Bvld that I decide to drop the tour and make my way to Robertson Bvld. I finally got there after zero help form locals. Honestly, no one knows the area! A crazy lady on the bus tells me about her childhood in Australia and that I will find a man in America. Rather odd comment to make, but typical of crazy bus people in L.A!

Got to Robertson Bvld with my eyes peeled for Kitson. My fashionista friends would understand the importance of finding this store. I also hope to locate The Ivy restaurant for lunch. Find Kitson, v. excited. J Head in (feeling like a pleb compared to all the locals there) and look around and purchase a couple of accessories.

Head to The Ivy. Popular celeb haunt for lunch, which would explain why paparazzi are camped outside waiting for something to happen. I get a seat inside to eat my $25 chicken quesadillas. Ridiculous prices for something that wasn’t that fantastic, yet I just had to do it anyway. I will say though that service was absolutely top notch. Finish up with the aim of checking out Melrose Ave.

I check the bus timetable and see that the bus only comes every hour and I just missed it. Shit. I should know better thinking why would a bus run through an area like that when you can drive you can drive your Merc?

I headed on foot to Melrose. I think I totaled about 6 km’s of walking today, and that was only the beginning. Along Robertson Bvld I walked past a heap of paps outside a store. I asked around and it’s Ken Paves hair salon. He’s a celeb hairdresser and the curtains are drawn as there is a celeb in the salon. I wait a few minutes out of curiosity and I score. The paps go nuts and start yelling, ‘hey Eva, over here!’ Eva Longoria walked out of the salon, and I manage to briefly check her out. It was cool to see the paps operate. As soon as she zoomed off the paps run to their cars and head out for the next celeb.

I got to Melrose and headed down the street hoping to locate Tarina Tarantino’s flagship store, my FAVOURITE jewelry designer ever. Melrose had heaps of funky stores and all the usual $$$$ stores like Neiman Marcus & Paul Smith.

Get to Tarina’s store and make a small purchase. ;) I was ready to get back to the hotel so I got onto a bus to get me closer to the hotel. I pressed for the next stop on the bus only to discover the buses don’t make all the stops and ended up in downtown L.A. One word for you – dodgy! I walked a rather fast pace back tracking to get to my hotel after a quick look in the Forever Hollywood Cemetery. The only grave a recognize is one of the Romones.

Once back to the hotel I got in 40 winks and then headed downstairs to Coffee Shop 101 for dinner. It’s in the same building as the hotel so it’s an easy option. It was the location for some scenes in Swingers. Very funky atmosphere, luckily I wear my new Kitson purchases so I don’t feel too much of a tourist. Haha, yeah sure. I ate my spag bowl with a guy on the right of me editing a script and two guys on the other side asking me if I was in Hollywood to be an actress, to which I replied, ‘Ha, yeah right!’. There’s no business like show business in Hollywood.

After eating my garlic with a side of pasta I head back to my room for shut eye. The amount of walking during the day takes it out of me!

What I learnt about Hollywood:

• The paparazzi know no boundaries. It really would turn you off being a celeb.
• Kitson really is just a shop, not THAT awesome.
• Stay the hell away form downtown L.A Yikes.
• Taxis are bloody hard to come by during the day.

At the Hollywood Bowl. If you look closely you can see the Hollywood sign through the haze on the hill in the background.

The store used for the seen in Pretty Woman in which Julia Robert's characters is refused service on Rodeo Drive.

The famous Farmer's Market on Wilshire Bvld.

Kitson on Robertaon Bvld. Unfortunately Paris wasn't shopping there that day. They draw the shades in the store when celebrities shop in there.

The Ivy restaurant.

Eva Longoria being chased by the paparazzi from the hairdresser into her car.