Stars and Stripes

We're in the US. This country that we grew up hearing stories about, every show we saw on TV taught us about their culture, the films taught us the language I write and speak in now. America with their American dream and values and politics. Their influence on the rest of the world, whether we all like it or not. There was a lot of expectation and anticipation and excitement. And so far, so good. :)

Flying in over LA, our first glipse of the US!!

We arrived in LA surprisingly little tired after almost 20 hours of travelling and were met at the airport in Los Angeles by an angel called Linnea. Now our connection with LIinnea is somewhat random and coincidential. She was at a Chirstmas party at Åslaug's mother's friend's house in Norway and after only a short chat offerd to take us in when we arrived in the country. L.A is flat and HUGE. During our first hours in USA we saw Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Hollywood. And got tickets to a show called "Operah's Allstars" with Dr.Phil, Dr.Oz and Suzie Orman, which we went to the next morning at Paramount Studios. (we were at the very front, Åssi will for sure be on tv, the theme was "Love, sex and more" and it will air sometime between september and november).

Hollywood Boulevard..

If you look reaaal close, you'll see the Hollywood sign to the left of the palm tree in the middle. We had imagined it a little bigger!? Also, we sitting on a stone bed and under it, it says "The road to Hollywood". You may interperate that the way you prefer.

The "Harry Potter" Kids had their handprints along there

with the other famous stars - good for them!

Just a "small" poster of Dr. Phil outside Paramount studios.

Some wierd guy on the LA subway just sat down while we waited for the train and started drawing me. He turned out to be a really nice guy who's advise to us were "go to School! Get educated!". Just a tad ironic since he himself was very happy working in the summer drawing people on the street in Hollywood. He normally charges 15-20 dollars for his drawings but he just gave me mine. Unecspected and it totally made my day. 

Linnea lives in Pasadena, one of the suburbs out of town. She was the perfect hostess, fed us well and told us how to get around town and see everything we wanted to see. We also went to Santa Monica. When me and Åslaug were kids (and by kids i mean like 10-14 years old) we watched Pacific Blue every summer. I even remember my mom recordig it in the evening because it was on past my bedtime. Pacific Blue with the bike police was the coolest show on. Santa Monica in real life has no girls in thongs in rollerblades as far as we could see, but the street mall is very charming and the pier with the fun park (we took the roller coster) was cool. No bikepolice but Santa Monica Police cars was mighty present in the area.

Santa Monica was most of all WINDY! I should not have worn a dress that day.

I dont know how many people saw my underwear..

The pier with the fun park

Gelato is a must on such a beautiful sunny day!

If there sun there's ice cream - anywhere, anytime, always! :)

We filled our 3 days well, but didnt feel we needed more time. A little disapointment that Disneyland will have to be next time..

Yes Åslaug - May this cement our friendship :)