Los Angeles

Los Angeles, City of Angels, and dreams are a few miles inland.  Although it has no town centre as such, the areas which are the most interesting are easy to find. Hollywood, to the Northwest is a surprisingly low key area which is building up a reputation as an art and fashion scene. However it’s old fashioned fame from the heyday of American Movie Studios still dominates Los Angeles. Many  people  who move there still  want to find themselves with their faces looking at them from the wide screen. Go star gazing on Hollywood Boulevard on the Walk Of Fame. Find many opportunities for studio tours advertised on the internet and at your hotel reception.

West Hollywood partly adopted by  a largely gay crowd has great restaurants,  and  Sunset Strip.  Have a drink  in  the popular stars’ hotel, The Chateau Marmon, which is built in the style of a French Chateau and overlooks The Strip.  In contrast, home to UCLA ,  the Westwood area is  where you can actually walk on pavements!   For a US city which revolves round driving that is a luxury!  Visit  little arts and crafts stores, exotic groceries and walk through pretty streets of ‘30s bungalows  with immaculate front lawns,  where Marilyn Monroe lived and mysteriously died.  You can stay in lovely 1930s apartment style hotels with fantastic ‘30s style kitchens, and open plan living rooms overlooking the pool, which often as not are surrounded by English rose bushes in bloom.

With high rise condos everywhere in Los Angeles ,  it is possible to explore this sprawling city and be taken aback by the difference in wealth,  poverty, beauty and shabbiness . Los Angeles is also now known for its wonderfully varied cuisine.  

However revamped Downtown has a growing loft and cultural scene with a great buzz.  Imposing  B el- Air  mansions  are modelled on old English,  European and Mexican Architecture, from the  Mock Tudor to the Edwardians. In the Hollywood Hills happen upon romantic traditional Spanish Hacienda with grape vines and flowering creepers growing over the 19 century brickwork,  twirled around delicate wrought iron balconies and gates, for your certain delight.  Frank Lloyd Wright the great American 20c architect got away from the traditional European architecture. He designed what are original and great houses unique to US Cities. They can be found in LA too.

Visit the astounding Getty Centre with all its artefacts, and works of art on the Brentwood  hilltop  Have a wonderful day out in this stunning building with fantastic views.

Hit  happy friendly Santa Monica Beach, one of the most popular beaches in LA.  Swim, dine and people watch at  bohemian Venice’s  Boardwalk.  It is lined with studios and houses along the Broad walk beach front, suntanned babes and blokes rollerblade and skateboard along the front. Try the famous Long Beach. But best of all you will hardly ever have to wonder how the weather will turn out! It is sunny! Go shopping on Rodeo Drive. Check out www.@la.com for museums, music galleries, clubs, studio tours and so much more.