Our vacation in Los Angeles, California
Wednesday, 10th May 2006 : We leave San Antonio (Texas) on bound for LAX, Los Angeles.
In the morning we packed up our things, said goodbye to the dogs and headed off to San Antonio Airport with Elaina. It was sad saying goodbye, not knowing when we were going to see each other again. At the airport our bag weighed 62pounds, and you're not allowed more than 50 pounds in a bag, so we spent some time shifting luggage between bags to avoid the $25 fine.
We were booked on South West Airline flight 305V bound for LAX (a Los Angeles Airport) South-West Airlines has an unusual boarding procedure. Those with disabilities and children board first, and can choose whichever seat they want. Those with an A class ticket board second choosing their seats, then B class and then C class. Luckily we had an A class ticket, so got seats next to the emergency exit - Karen at the window and me in the "friendship seat" (next to a big hulking Texan). The plane was not as luxurious as the JetBlue plane - there was no TV screen in front of us!
El Paso
On the way to LAX, the plane stopped at El Paso, which is a town on the Texan side of the Mexico border. The countryside has changed from San Antonio - it is brow brown brown - desert desert desert.
As we went over the mountains towards LAX, I was quite surprised to see snow at the top of the mountains in the middle of their summer (clearly not as hot as Texas!).
LAX
LAX is a very busy airport. As we landed I watched another plane taking off from a runway parallel to our landing runway. Luggage Wasn't as quick as San Antonio, but still much quicker than ACSA can manage! Hiring a car was a different experience to SA, there were a number of phones at the terminal and numbers of car rental places. I arranged a car with Avis and then went to the purple area where we waited for an Avis bus to take us to Avis.
Tip for anybody renting - make sure that tax is included in the quote and insurance.
Our rental vehicle
Our rental vehicle is a Chev Aveo (it was the cheapest they had available). It has a USA flag printed on the left hand window and is automatic transmission (this seems to be the norm in the USA) - uses more fuel and is more expensive than a manual - but hey, this is the land of the plenty.
The Chev Aveo in the parking lot under the Orbit hotel
Driving in the USA
This was the first time I had ever driven on the right-hand-side of the road. Driving on the right-hand-side of the road takes some getting used to, especially when making turns. We eventually found our way to the Orbit Hotel (323-655-1510) in Melrose Avenue. There's not much to say about the hotel other than that it's functional, relatively cheap and is in West Hollywood, close to Hollywood Boulevard.
Hollywood Boulevard
Karen on Hollywood Boulevard
Click here to see the pictures I took on Hollywood Boulevard.
Light Switches
The light switches in the USA work differently to in South Africa. What would be regarded as the on switch in South Africa is the off switch in the USA (and vice versa)!