We have a couple of days downtown before E3 starts, so we figured it'd be nice to get a sense of the city before we're shut up in the Convention Centre for three days. Despite being hideously jetlagged (mainly due to no sleep - THANK YOU Mister Loudmouth sitting across from us) we still managed to check out a couple of LA non-tourist attractions that are probably akin to checking out Lower Hutt - but hell, we're in Los Angeles, so it's interesting.

Firstly we visited the Grand Central Market in South Broadway, an open air market that's full of the more bizarre (and occasionally unappetising) delicacies on this earth. I was under the mistaken impression this was the legendary Los Angeles Farmers Market, but apparently that's in Hollywood, a billion glamorous miles from us. This market was not so much fine wine and local produce but a ton of dried goods of all description and men yelling at you to buy their various meats: 'RIBS! SHRIMP! CHEAP!'

From there we ventured forth to the Historic Downtown area, full of crumbling old buildings and chunky hotels, including the original 'Million Dollar Hotel', which gave Tris a thrill cos Bono co-wrote the script to the movie that was filmed there, and we all know how much of a U2 fan Tristan is. This place was pretty lovely to look at actually, and I particularly liked all the Bohemian lofts scattered about.

We concluded the day at the jewellery and 'toy' districts (for our pleasure), although the toy district appears to have no toys in at all and is instead a thriving Little Mexico, and we were quite literally the only whities there for two blocks, kind of an awkward thrill. Gaming related fun: we checked out two second hand gaming shops in this 'Toy district' and they were full to the brim of old games: Sega Classics, NES titles and rarities. If we were less jetlagged we probably would have gone crazy with our American dollars trying to buy nostalgia or things that were selling for two bucks but probably worth like, ten on EBAY.

As for tonight, who knows where we'll end up? LA is big, much bigger than I remembered it the last time I did a touristy schlep here, and every move you make has to be very considered and planned out. Walking is pretty much a non-option in this city. Maybe Chinatown? Hollywood? Or maybe we'll just order a pizza and fall asleep at 5PM....watch this space.