Woke up around 4am to get ready for our ride to Dulles Int Airport for our morning flight to LA. Didn't sleep too badly after an early light dinner in the hotel. I guess everyone was tired after all the excitement the afternoon before.
At first I was worried. All weary travellers are aware of the long airport queues. With added security, the lines snake all the way round to eternity. I could hobble but I probably need to sit somewhere close to the queues as my posse moves along.
Never had to travel like this.
All was quiet at Dulles - no queues - when we arrived and at our check in counter, we were asked if I needed a wheelchair. Hey! That's a great idea! After a few minutes, some from the airport staff came with wheelchair and to top it all off, we got priority in the security check queues. I'm not one to complain about travelling. I know It's a huge task for all involved to move all these people and luggage to their destinations and sometimes it's just bad luck.
By this time, I was over the moon with my wheelchair!
We were 'parked' at our gate with 2hrs to spare and we were all too grateful to be helped by the American Airlines and Dulles airport staff here.... :)
Got into LA by early afternoon. (Used Super Shuttles for our transfer in DC and LA. ). We checked into Orchid Suites in Hollywood and it is position perfect for those who want to avoid staying near Disneyland and anything else south of California. It's only 3 mins walk (10 mins hobble) to Hollywood Blvd, Kodak Theatre and Grauman's Chinese Theatre. It's still quite a way from Santa Monica as we found out a few days later. Pretty decent place and quiet considering that Hollywood Blvd and Nth Highland Ave is just bustling with traffic.
Had to ask a local where we could find pharmacy/supermarket on Hollywood Blvd so I called my cousin's hubby for directions (Thks, Mike!) and also to chat with my cousin (Hi, Yvette!) who are all now in Houston. I think it was called Long's Drugs. We stocked up on provisions to last us for the 5 days we were there. With hindsight, we were glad that we had this many days here. It wld have probably been too long if I was able bodied to be running around.
I stayed in and worked out the wireless internet connection while the troops bought food and found a chinese restaurant La Oriental Bistro on Nth Highland ave - great for takeaways but not very good at french or so my son tells me!
