The Best of LA - Part III

Today I will be brief… these are some precious hidden treasures LA has, please don’t miss them:

The Getty Center gardens

The Getty Center

Well, if you don't want to spend through your nose and still want to have fun, LA has a lot of free things to do. Besides the beaches and parks you can go to Universal city walk, but I doubt you won't at least eat there, Well but the best I saved for last "The Getty Center".
 Probably one of the best art Galleries in The World, for sure my favorite in the USA. J. Paul Getty, an eccentric millionaire considered one of the richest man in the history, and also known as a miser ( extremely cheap), had great appreciation for art  an impressive collection and the desire of showing it to the public. From a dream was created the Getty Center. It is located at the top of the hill on Sepulveda Boulevard and offers a wonderful view of the city, moreover it is the recreation of an Italian Village where you can visit a variety of art exhibitions from everywhere and from different centuries. It is a beautiful rich place to visit the Architecture and the gardens are amazing. If you love art or simply enjoy eating outdoors it is a must go. There is a parking lot at the bottom of the hill where you can park for $15,00 before 4:00 and $10,00 after 4:00 . Park your car and take the train uphill. The best is to go in the morning and spend many hours there, enjoying, not only the art but also the amazing gardens. What a place for a great photography.   

Nightlife: Sunset Boulevard

Los Angeles has thousands of places to eat and bars for all pockets. If you like party just go to Sunset Boulevard,  there you can find many options for the night from traditional clubs like Whisky a Go Go to comedy places like the Laugh Factory where Jim Carey and many other respectable comedians started, 

The standard Hollywood hotel has a really cool lounge, where you can dance and drink and if you feel hungry don’t waste your chance to go to the traditional Carney Train, it is located few steps from the Standard and it serves one of the best and fatty cheap burgers, believe me it doesn’t look as good as it  tastes . 

You can find all types of restaurants as in any other big city, but if you want to save some money don’t waste your chance of eating in many Mexican restaurants.

That's all for now .... If you want more information about the places I write just click on the name of the place it is always linked to its official website

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The LA I Love Part II

At first sight LA is nothing more than a city full of high rises but behind  the asphalt  jungle ( it reminds of  that Guns n'Roses song, that one called "Welcome to the Jungle") , there's so much to see and do that I could stay there for months.

Today, I will tell you a little about the city: Downtown LA, Hollywood  Boulevard, Rodeo Drive and the WB Studios.

 Downtown LA: I've been there few times and there is nothing so impressive besides the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Staples Center.

Once, I took the subway from Long Beach to downtown LA and I confess, I panicked. Boarding on the train in Long Beach was nice and the station was beautiful, but once I arrived downtown it looked dangerous, I don’t know  if it was because it was Sunday but people I met told me it is not a good idea walking around with a suitcase in that area  so it was the first and the last time I took a Subway in LA. Renting a car is the best option.

El Pueblo If you like history visit El Pueblo Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Angeles   it is a Church and a Square really different from anywhere else in the city and there is a nice Latin Market there. You can book free tours on the website linked to its name. The impressive thing is the constructions make you feel  you are travelling to the past.

Chinatown

But if you want to take nice pictures go to Chinatown, it doesn't look safe there but it is ok. It is beautiful, with many restaurants, events and free walking tours, visit the website to learn more.

Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive

Well, if you are over 25, probably you’ve seen Pretty Woman and remember Julia Roberts  being moked when trying to shop wearing her working clothes. That’s there, on Rodeo Drive. Don’t miss your chance to see the hotel where she spend her fairy tale days and also, if you can afford: buy, buy and buy there. Many stars choose Rodeo drive when shopping  but don’t think it is easy to see them,  usually, they call before arrival so the clients are gently asked to leave, the doors can be closed and the stars happily buy all they need.  If you are not a star or prefer spending your money with something more fun…go there to take some pics and window-shop as much as you want. The stores are amazing and the cars stunning

Hollywood Boulevard

First impression: Hollywood land of dreams, nothing is really what it looks like on TV. It looked a lot dirtier and busier than in my romantic idea, but it’s Hollywood it’s magical, you have to go.

 I really enjoyed the Walk of Fame, taking pictures with the stars is a challenge. The highlights are the Chinese and Kodak theater, if you go inside the Kodak Theater you get to see the Hollywood Sign, the picture from there is not so impressive, but better than nothing. I went up the hills once and took a better picture, but I am still looking for a really good one. I accept suggestions. 

Well the part I personally dislike in Hollywood is the amount of people selling tours and souvenirs it is very hard to walk without being approached by people offering something.

Warner Bros : Imagine visiting the set of Two and a Half Man , going to Central Perk for some pictures, visiting a museum where you can see an actual  Batmobile or the scooby doo's Van, taking a close look into the Harry Potter's very small room and if you are lucky enough meeting a real star in action. Those are some of the risks you have to take when visiting one of my favorite attractions when visiting L.A . The Warner Brothers Studios located in Burbank a little far from downtown but worth the trip. If you don't wanna miss it choose your tour there are tours for all tastes and almost all pockets , just click and check :WB Studios

Scooby doo's car

Next post I will tell you a little about three things to do and Nightlife. If you liked follow me and if you have more suggestions, please drop me a line

The L.A I love

The first time I went to Los Angeles I hated it. I had been travelling for days from San Francisco by route 1, the scenic road, seeing breathtaking landscapes, visiting parks and beaches. Suddenly LA seemed to be a concrete jungle compared to the natural beauties I had seen along the way. Since I don't  give up easily and I was not convinced my impression was the truth and I decided to give LA a second chance, this time returning to spend a week by myself just enjoying the city. Well, needless to say I fell in love with it and went back a couple of times later. Now, I  just wanna go back soon.

LA county is huge and offers lots of things to do, so I decided to write only about the places I have been and to divide it in three parts. Being part I, about Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Santa Monica

A true Oasis to stay, this is the way I see Santa Monica. It is a perfect city to spend your first vacation days. Santa Monica is peaceful, beautiful and at the same time so fancy, I love it. My suggestion is, if you have time, spend at least 4 days enjoying the place, visiting its bars, restaurants, walking to Venice beach, renting a bike or a rollerblade to have fun and enjoy the amazing view. It is relaxing and you will get the taste of life in California. The good thing is that you don't need a car while staying in Santa Monica, but you will need one for sure when going to Hollywood, Downtown LA and anywhere else around.

Palisades Park and the Third Street Promenade are perfect places for a stroll in the early evening or in the morning.

The pier: The most famous sightseeing in Santa Monica. There you will find the Visitor Center, where you can buy tours to visit the streets of Malibu and Beverly Hills, where the stars have their Mansions,  plus a city tour downtown LA and Hollywood, or if you are in the mood for Movies and Rides, there are tours to the Universal Studios and Disneyland. That's also where you can have some Bubba Gump Shrimp, and go to the Pacific Amusement Park. The Pier is where you have the sensation you are in one of the many movies you've seen before.

Venice

Walking along Santa Monica Palisades Park, you get to Venice Beach. It is not a long walk and it is worth feeling the atmosphere and enjoying it, once there, train on Muscle beach platform and walk by the Venice Canals.

Venice Beach: That's where the unique guys are, that is the place nobody is ashamed to be who they are. You see all types of artists, mystic people and it has such a free atmosphere, that you feel you can wear whatever you want, be exactly who you are and everyone will accept it. As a matter of fact nobody cares who you are or what you do. I confess, the first time I went there I got disappointed, in Venice people look really different from people in Santa Monica, but it is a great place worth seeing with your own eyes.

Muscle Beach: Santa Monica Muscle Beach or Muscle Beach Venice? Well, there is a lot of history if you like, just click on Muscle Beach and there will be  an entire website about the old and the new Muscle Beach Platform. What I can tell from experience, is that if you are addicted to working out, don't miss the chance of training where bodybuilding became popular in The USA, Arnold Schwarzenegger, mentions the beach several times in his book Total Recall My Unbelievably True Story ( Published October 1st 2012 by Simon & Schuster)

That's all for now, next time I will be writing about Downtown LA, Hollywood Boulevard, The Getty Center and WB Studio

If you have visited these places and have more suggestions please feel free to drop me a line

Chris Rigos