Los Angeles, USA road trip, 1980

Los Angeles is a sprawling Southern California city and the centre of the nation’s film and television industry. Near its iconic Hollywood sign, studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Brothers offer behind-the-scenes tours. On Hollywood Boulevard, TCL Chinese Theatre displays celebrities’ hand- and footprints, the Walk of Fame honours thousands of luminaries and vendors sell maps to stars’ homes. Bel-Air is a ritzy residential enclave in the verdant foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Two stately entrance gates off Sunset Boulevard lead to winding streets lined with lavish mansions on large properties with lush vegetation. Popular with celebrities and entertainment industry elite, the neighbourhood is home to the landmark Hotel Bel-Air, a long-time luxury hideaway, and the exclusive Bel-Air Country Club. Fisherman's Village is a replica of a New England seaport and fishing town. You can stroll the quiet harbourfront to enjoy views of the Marina. RMS Queen Mary Hotel Ship, Long Beach. After several years of decreased profits, Cunard officially retired the Queen Mary from service in 1967. She left Southampton for the last time on 31 October 1967 and sailed to Long Beach, California, United States, where she was permanently moored. The City of Long Beach bought the ship to serve as a tourist attraction featuring restaurants, a museum, and a hotel. The city contracted out management of the ship to various third-party firms over the years, until it took back operational control in 2021.