Adventures in the USA: Rachel's Travel Diary

I’m starting to settle in to the city. Still struggling a little bit with jet lag – I usually wake quite early and then fall asleep on the sofa next to Chris by about 10pm. It will take a while to adjust I’m sure. I’ve covered quite a lot of ground this week, exploring the local area and finding lots of nice places to get coffee.

I’ve been to Target a few times now for groceries and homeware, as well as Trader Joe’s and Ralph’s. Fresh ingredients seem very expensive here but I think I’ll just have to accept that – it will make London seem cheap when I get back in the summer! On the other hand, every store seems to have a discount card, which really makes a difference to the price – it’s like every item is subject to a ‘Clubcard Price’.

On Tuesday we went to a diner called The Apple Pan in Beverly Hills that’s been open since the 1940s – I love a cheese burger with crispy fries – and we followed it with amazing apple pie and ice cream. It was a proper diner experience where you sit at the counter with the food prepared right in front of you. This weekend we’re going to get tacos. There’s a truck nearby that Chris swears has the best tacos he’s ever had! I’m really excited to try lots of authentic Mexican food. I do wish I’d been able to go to Mexico in person for that Girlguiding project I did a few years ago! By complete contrast, I also really want to go to IHOP this weekend for brunch. I’ve only been to IHOP once before, in Niagara in Canada. I was so disappointed when I found out that IHOP doesn’t exist outside of North America and I’ve been waiting 7 years to go back! I had fried chicken and waffles last time and I remember the portion sizes being staggering, so I expect we’ll be taking leftovers home! I also want to try The Cheesecake Factory soon. Being a fan of the Big Bang Theory, I’ve heard all about the menu from the characters working and dining there, so now I want to see what’s it’s really like! 

We’re hoping to add me to the hire car insurance in the next couple of weeks, but for now walking it is. On Wednesday I decided to walk up to Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame. I never realised how long it is! I spent about half an hour walking up one side of the street (I’m not sure how much further it continues) before crossing over then coming back on the other side . Walking along Hollywood Boulevard, one section is buzzing with life, with the famous Chinese, Egyptian and El Capitan movie theatres attracting crowds and lots of other tourist attractions like Madame Tussaud, Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ and old ice cream and soda shops, but a few minutes further down the street and one in three shops is boarded up or going out of business. 

My walk to Hollywood was nearly a 4 hour round trip (including one short stop for a very average chicken quesadilla) and around 22,000 steps. I was thoroughly worn out when I got home so I’m taking it a bit easier for a few days. I expect I’ll be going back to Hollywood quite soon though; I’d like to see a movie in one of the old theatres and go on a history tour at the El Capitan theatre (which was used for Disney movie premieres since the 1990s but dates back to 1920s). It’s great fun trying to find your favourite stars on the Walk of Fame. I like the mixture of famous characters (Shrek, Minnie Mouse, Alvin and The Chipmunks for example) represented alongside actors, directors and musicians. But next time I go, I think I’ll get a taxi to save my feet!

Signing off now from across the pond,
Rachel