Arrived into LAX after an 11 hour flight from London, exausted doesn't begin to state how tired we were. Up bright and early the next day (bodies were still on home time so awake at dawn) and off on the tour around the city. This city has really surprised me, it really is a city of extremes. Went on the obligatory tour of the rich and famous houses (seen Britney Spears mom!!!!), up to the Hollywood hills, Venice Beach, seen the studios and of course Hollywood Boulavard and the Sunset Strip. All very good but the highlight, strange as it may seem, was the tour of the west surburbs of LA (meeting with the locals who were busy collecting for a friends funeral who had been gunned down earlier in the week) and a swift drive through Skid Row, very harsh places but fascinating in their own strange way. Next day was spent having mindless fun in the Universal Studios. This place is unbelievable, the new Mummy ride (up, down and around in near pitch darkness and when you think it's finished it suddenly kicks into reverse and you do it all again backwards!) and the Jurassic Park ride were definite highlights. Might not be the cheapest form of entertainment but well worth it in my eyes. And that was basically LA, we are now on our merry way across the desert and into Las Vegas to hopefully pay for the rest of this adventure!