I'm in Love......with LA!

For those of you who don't already know it, I am relocating to LA - seriously! :) The journey from Houston via Dallas to LA took about 5 hours on American Airlines. I was advised to rent a car since it's virtually impossible to move around LA without one. I succumbed and rented a car from Hertz at LAX airport which broke down on the 405 freeway 30 mins later, it took an hour and half before they were able to get a new car to me - not a great start! But things began to turn around...

Los Angeles California (the city of angels) is surrounded by beaches, mountains, and deserts. I always wondered why people would want to live in an area which is subject to regular earthquakes, but now I understand. The city's celluliod self-image, with its palm trees, shopping malls, and opulent lifestyles, has been idealised as the ultimate 'American Dream'; it is still the fantasy worlds of Hollywood and Disneyworld that I think draw most people to LA.

LA is divided into several districts such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills (v.nice), Santa Monica, the Valley, downtown, Westwood etc. I didn't get to visit downtown, it seems most people hardly go there unless one works there, and there are quite a lot of homeless people there too - Arnie sort it

out! I visited Santa Monica - the Palisades park, the beach, 3rd street

Promenade and Santa Monica Pier (one of the oldest piers built in 1908), UCLA and Westwood village. The 'Golden Traingle' is the area bordered by Santa Monica boulevard, Wilshire boulevard and North Crescent drive, were one can find the most luxurious shops, restaurants and art galleries, cutting through the middle is 'Rodeo Drive', one of the most celebrated shopping streets - hmmmmm it's good to dream.... I went into the famous 'Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel' where Julia Roberts and Richard Gere did the popular movie 'Pretty Woman'. 'Sunset Boulevard' - many wonderful restaurants and clubs including the 'Viper Room' were River Phoenix died.

'Hollywood Boulevard' paved with the 'Walk of fame' and the famed 'Mann's Chinese Theatre' and the 'Kodak Theatre' - home to the Oscars - fantastic!! A drive on Mulholland drive - spectacular views of the city and the San Fernando valley. I also visited the Farmers market, Hollywood bowl and Miracle Mile. I couldn't visit the 'Hollywood sign' but I took many pictures of it! Also visited Valencia in Santa Clarita.

I'm not quite sure what I love most about LA, whether it's the people, the close proximity to the stars (spotted a couple of celebrities), the weather (plenty of sunshine), the restaurants (eg. chin chin, il fornaio), all the aspiring actors/performing artists/or whatever talent it might be (nearly everyone I met was an actor), the beaches, the mountains, the fake glitzy life, the amazing houses etc - all I know is I'm in Love.....

Las Vegas

I was also able to visit Las Vegas in Nevada. It was an extremely long drive - 4hours in

total (London to Edinburgh journey time) but it was an amazing drive through the desert - I nearly ran of petrol (or gas) at one point and was terrifed I'd be stranded by the side of the road like in the movies.....I know I know... Anyway, the heart of vegas lies along 'Las Vegas Boulevard', a sparkling vista of neon known simply as "The Strip". 'The Strip' is about 3.5miles long and it's home to a cluster of lavishly themed hotels such as the Luxor (where I stayed), the Monte Carlo,Caesars Palace (my 1st favourite) Bellagio (my 2nd favourite), The Excalibur,Paris, New York, MGM etc with their own shops, restaurants and 24 hr casinos. Vegas has been classified as the entertainment capital of the world. To me, Vegas is just one big playground designed to zap people of their money and it definitely works! One most always see a show whilst in Vegas, so I wanted to see Celion Dion but she wasn't on so I saw the 'KA' version of the Cirque du Soleil - truly beautiful!!

I couldn't drive to see the Grand Canyon so I joined a plane tour and saw the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the amazing West Rim of The Grand Canyon in Colorado - a must see! ( I was also ill on the flight - very sad! :( )

Many thanks to Rodrick, Titi, Ori, Aine, Jessica, Bruce, Salami and Katherine

ciao

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