Day 4: Tuesday May 13, 2014 ... Hollywood Hike and LA Live

It’s becoming routine … wake up to sun and heat (today’s high is projected to be 36’C), Dustin off with Nicole to the Gym at the Mariott for 6:15 am and breakfast at the Hotel at 8 am.

After a short visit to the projects for the students to drop off their project materials (today is the Judges' day to review the students’ material and presentation board), the Team was off on a field trip to Hollywood and to become tourists.  Cathy stayed back to look after Arjuna (his 2^nd IB exam) and Dan M who wanted to attend a few symposium.

A 15 minute Subway ride took us right to the Hollywood tourist district.

Students were told that the short subway ride would take them to Hollywood where they would experience a touristy walk about.  They didn’t know that it ended up being a healthy hike through one of the Runyon Canyon Trails.  Although well lathered with sunscreen, many however came obviously unprepared baring only sandals so the lengthy climb coupled with the extreme heat caught everyone by surprised.  Doing a 3 mile hike with a 500 ft elevation in extreme heat is a real test (record 38'C).  Nevertheless, we survived because after all, we are CANADIANS!
  

A visit to a local Cantaloop Yogurt specialty store soothed the pain and all safely returned back in time to catch the Nobel Laureate Symposium … a perennial favourite at all IISEFs.  While on the hike, Catherine had a chance to meet up with a nearby Beverly Hills friend who she met at a recent school Catholic Conference.

For the evening, the students were invited to a club at the LA Live to meet and greet other students Grammy Museum.  A few of our Canadians had to be gathered up but all were home safe and obviously tired.  Some were anxious to get back to the hotel to do more practice on their presentations.  Perhaps the chaperone’s choice of the Hollywood Hike had its purpose; everyone was in bed and done by 11 pm.  Rested, we are prepared for tomorrow’s Judging Day.

more pics of Day 4 here