I'm in Hollywood!!!!!!

[vyperdd]

Am settled in my hostel in Hollywood for the night so time to update!!! It's a 4 bed all-female dorm but I'm the only one in here so it's basically a private room for only $35US. Briefly spoke to another guest as she was packing her things and she gave the place a glowing review so I think I'll be happy to stay here again when I come back to LA in a couple of weeks. It's pretty clean and rather quiet considering it's right on Hollywood Blvd (where the Walk of Fame with all the stars is).

Have got a very early start tomorrow as I have to be at the Greyhound station in LA by 6.30am for my bus trip to Vegas so alarm is set for 5am. Am catching a train and bus to the station for only $1.75. Will have to see how it goes with all my luggage. If it's too much of a pain in the arse, will use shuttle bus next time. (To here from LAX it was only $16 so not too bad) But am hoping I can manage on public transport as it will save me quite a bit of money. Luckily, the train station is right across the st from the hostel and according to Google Maps, I only have a couple of 5 min walks between train and bus and then the Greyhound stn.

Had a fantastic flight from Auckland, NZ to LA overnight. There were lots of empty seats so I ended up in a row of 3 by myself so was able to lay down and stretch my legs out -- one of the few times being short has come in really handy. Managed almost 5 hours sleep on the 10 hour flight when I usually struggle to doze for more than 30 mins at a time when flying so arrived in LA feeling very refreshed.

Kudos to AirNewZealand for the wonderful and very speedy service on board. Could order free drinks and snacks thru the entertainment screen and they were delivered to my seat in less than a couple of minutes.

Plus they had season 10 of SPN so I was a very happy fangirl. Ended up watching about 5 eps.

I got through customs pretty quickly, though trying to explain to the border security dude why I was going to a tv show convention was pretty funny. He thought I was there to buy tv shows for a network, obviously had no idea what a con is. Ended up telling him it was just a smaller version of San Diego ComicCon but am still not sure he got it. Oh well, he let me in so that's all that matters.

Then bought a US sim card with unlimited data and texts (thanks for that tip, Betty. Will have no trouble d/loading my SPN eps whilst I'm here!!! Priorities, dude!!!) Then found a power outlet for my laptop (which had died on the plane and 3/4 of the way through my viewing of the latest SPN ep) and sat down to watch 11x04 in full. Loved it, it certainly lived up to all the hype J2 and fandom had for it.

Can't wait to squee about it with a thousand other fans at DenverCon in 8 days time as I'm sure it'll be the talk of the con.

Ok that's about it for now. Gonna watch 11x04 again then hit the sack. Will probably post again once I'm settled in my hotel in Vegas tomorrow.

Comments

[manic-padagirl.livejournal.com]

I am glad you had a safe flight. Keep us posted. I want to 'hear' all about it. I am going to bed, too. Have a good night. Enjoy the show.

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I will be trying to update at least once a day just so things are fresh in my mind.

[sailorhathor.livejournal.com]

Woohoo! How exciting! Did you have a chance to see any of the Walk of Fame? I visited it in 1991 and that was definitely a highlight of my trip, with all the great shops. If you were staying for any length of time, I would recommend you visit my friend Carl's club in North Hollywood, the CIA. Delightfully weird place, and it'd be fun to freak him out when a woman with an Australian accent tells him Laurel from Texas says hi. ;) But that's okay, you've got SPN conventions to attend! I've also visited Las Vegas and I loved it. Kind of tacky, but that's the point. :D Have fun!

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

I saw a little of it yesterday when I wandered down Hollywood Blvd looking for some cheap food. I've been to LA back in '08 and saw most of the Walk of Fame then so it's not really a priority this trip. Want to visit other places like Venice Beach and Santa Monica when I go back for 4 days in a couple of weeks for PasCon.

Wasn't overly impressed with the WoF first time round. It's so very commercialised with a lot of spruikers and ppl cosplaying, wanting to take a photo with you then charging for it. Only really staying in this particular hostel because it was cheap and had good reviews online.

Will try and check out your friend's club if I get the time. Have a couple of nights free that aren't taken up with con events so will see what happens. Weird huh?? How weird are we talking?? Considering I'd probably be going alone, would like a heads-up as to what to expect.

Will give my opinion on Vegas when I leave next Tues. Just what I've seen on TV and in the movies, I expect tacky but that's ok. Just want to see all the hotels down on the Strip that I've heard lots about. Passed the Bellagio on the way in which is where VegasCon is held, I think. So definitely want to check that one out.

[sailorhathor.livejournal.com]

Oh, I was mostly kidding when I suggested you should go to the CIA and freak out my friend. I actually don't know if it's a nice area or a crime-ridden area, so there's that to consider. It's weird in that it has a sideshow museum and has live shows of the kind that you might see in a freak show, plus some bands and movies. There are a couple of videos online that give you a good idea of what the club is all about if you're interested in that sort of thing.

https://www.facebook.com/EyeOnLA/videos/10153435338193705/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qIy7K6aH6M

I'm sure you'll have a great time at the con whether you wind up liking Vegas or not. :D

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you got there in one piece! And yay for lots of room on the airplane and excellent service! Nice going abroad during low season :D

Hope you had a good sleep!

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the flight was probably one of the best I've ever had. So much room to stretch out, relax and sleep. Felt like I was flying business class without paying thousands. Hope it's just as good for my flight home in a few weeks.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Oh my gooddddd you're there!!!!

I am so excited for you! (And me cos I LOVE con reports and vacation reports!)

*\o/**\o/**\o/**\o/**\o/**\o/**\o/**\o/**\o/**\o/*

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

I am!!!!!!!!!!! can hardly believe it, myself but here I am!!!!

Gonna post heaps and try to record all the highlights and lowlights. Want a really detailed record of this trip so I can look back on it for years to come and remember how awesome it was.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

And that's why I took a notebook and then wrote about 20k's worth of reports on here cos I figured I was never going again!

It's not gonna stop me doing exactly the same next year though :DD

Man you are gonna have SO much fun! :D

[thursdaysisters.livejournal.com]

Omg are there gonna be crazy room parties? There's gonna be crazy room parties :D

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

At the cons???? I certainly hope so. I want the whole 24/7 crazy and wild con experience that I've heard and read so much about.

Have been chatting with both sets of roomies for last few months on Facebook and we are all getting along really great. Met 1 of my DenverCon roomies on Thurs morn during my brief stop over in NZ and it was like we'd known each for years. She's also a Sam!Girl and huge Jared fan like me, so I'd thought we get on well and we did. Was only a very short meet-up as she was on her lunch break but it was so worth it. Can't wait to hook up with her in Denver Next week. We are gonna have so much fun.

[desertport]

Oh, cool! Are you at the Vibe? I stayed there for about a month when I moved to LA in 2007 (am now in Portland). It was awesome and I met the coolest people from all over the world. Also an SPN actor was my roommate for a bit.

Food advice: Hit up Canter's Delicatessen and Mel's Diner. I miss those places like whoa.

Hope you're enjoying the trip!!!

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

Stayed at Samesun Hollywood. Will be back there for a few days before & after PasCon.
Thanks for the food tips. Will try them out.

[vyperdd.livejournal.com]

Which one???? Got me very curious.

[desertport]

Ronald from the Night Shifter ep. He was really nice, and he thought the ep was AMAZING (which it was). But I'm so face-blind I didn't recognize him until he saw my SPN desktop and mentioned he'd been on the show. *facepalm* There were a lot of actors staying at the Vibe while they auditioned and acted in stuff, and young people looking for PA positions at the studios. Really neat place to be.

I hope you're enjoying your trip!

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm a bit late but I'm glad you're having a good time! Have a wonderful time at DenverCon!