Los Angeles Skyline

I have been to LA many times over the last 15 years. It is truly one of America’s great cities. There is so much to do in this place. You can go from the beaches to skiing in little over an hour, at pretty much any time of the year.

Everyone the world over is familiar on some level with Los Angeles, but largely through the image it has garnered as a result of the entertainment industry. Hollywood is a suburb of Los Angeles and the center of America’s movie and television industry. It is the place that has created the American image that is seen all around the world. But it is only an image. To see the real LA, you need to go beyond Tinseltown and its creations.

LA is a city that has been blessed with great weather almost year round. My partner and I spent the week there this past week (Sept 1 – 7, 2009). Unfortunately, the time that we were there was a time of very warm temperatures. However, since we were staying on the beach (at Redondo Beach), the heat did not affect us too much.

We also ended up being there while two big wildfires were burning in the hills and forest around the city. In fact, one of those fires was considered to be the worst wildfire in Southern California’s history. As a result, the air was full of smoke. Fortunately the air by the beach was much better.

Since I have been to LA so many times, I tried to do things that I had not done before. I think that I was fairly successful in that regard.

One of the first things that we got to do in LA was to go to the taping of the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. I have been to a few TV tapings, but this one was very enjoyable. I was a little dismayed when I found out that the main guest for the show would be John McCain. He is someone that I used to admire greatly. But as a result of his failed Presidential Campaign, I feel that he turned his back on the principles that made him so admirable for so much of his time as a US Senator. We were subjected to a typical politician’s tendency to ignore what he doesn’t want to talk about and blame everyone else for the problems that America faces. Ugh. I could not wait until his part was done. He just makes me ill these days. Fortunately the two other guests were much more to my liking. Frank Caliendo is a gifted impressionist. His ability to flow in and out of characters without hesitation is a joy to watch. Then the musical guest happened to be one of my favorite bands – Third Eye Blind. I have never had the opportunity to see them live in concert, so this was a real treat to me. They just put out a new album, but had been very quiet for many years before this new album.

Disney Hall

The next day, we met up with two people that I had not seen since high school (25 years ago) who both happen to live in LA. We decided to take the subway to meet them in downtown LA. This was my first time using the Metro system in Los Angeles. The ride took us about 1 hour, and we had to transfer from the Redondo Beach line to the red line and finally to the Green line to get to Union Station in Downtown LA.

Union Station is a real treat. I happen to love old train stations and this is a beauty. One of the guys we were meeting is a 4th grade teacher and happens to be very knowledgeable about Los Angeles and California history. He gave us a tour of the station and then took us on a walking tour through part of Downtown. We got to see the Catholic Cathedral that is close to Union Station. It is a modern cathedral, and apparently was quite controversial at the time it was built. I think it was quite cool. Because it was very modern, it was very different from most cathedrals I have been in. That did not make it less interesting, though. We then walked to the Disney Hall, the Opera House, the Performing Arts Center and the Staples Center. I have heard a lot of the “rebirth” of the downtown area, but had never spent any time there before. I found it to be very clean and very enticing. We saw some of the new lofts that have been built and a brand new Ritz Carlton that towers over the Staples Center. I can understand why people would want to live in the area. I am very glad to have had the chance to see it (and thank you Howard for your excellent tour!!).

The Getty Villa

Another day, we decided to go to the Getty Villa. This was actually the site of the home of J Paul Getty. He spent several decades having the Villa built as a replica of the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum. Unfortunately, he did not live to see it completed. But it represents a true masterpiece of a gift to the people of LA. If you plan to go, please be aware that it requires a reservation. The reservation is free, but you cannot just go to the center without it. Parking is $15 per car. The Villa sits on a hill in Malibu looking out over the Pacific Ocean. But the Villa is so spectacular that you will not be thinking about the view of the Ocean. It was a real privilege to visit the Villa. It is full of statuary and other items from Ancient Greece and Rome. All I can say is WOW! John and I absolutely loved it and I would say that this is a must see. The Getty did build another site in Los Angeles right off of the 405 highway. That is where you will find the collection of paintings. Both places are worth visiting. I would highly recommend, though, that you not try to visit both on the same day. It is too much to absorb.

After visiting the Villa, we spent a while driving around Malibu and then parked and walked over to the pier. I love the beaches of LA and Malibu is definitely one of the most spectacular. The ocean is gorgeous. But I also love looking back across the Pacific Coast Highway and seeing all of the incredible houses that have been built up on the hills all around Malibu. Again, wow. It is so spectacularly beautiful. I totally understand why people want to live here. Of course it is so prohibitively expensive that few can really afford it.

Crystal Cathedral

As we were staying in Redondo Beach, we also had the time to explore the cities in the immediate vicinity. Redondo Beach has a great pier that is filled with interesting restaurants and shops. It was right across the street from our hotel, so we went over there several times during our stay. Next to Redondo Beach are two other very beautiful cities – Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. In fact, I think Manhattan Beach is now my favorite area in LA. They have turned many of the streets that lead to the beach into pedestrian only streets. There is lots of parking and lots to do in the area. I have no idea what the cost is compared to other areas of LA, but I am sure it is more affordable than Malibu.

Crystal Cathedral

After leaving our Redondo Beach hotel, we went to Santa Ana to stay with John’s sister for a few days. The Crystal Cathedral is very close to her house, so we decided to take a ride over there and check it out. The grounds are really beautiful. I am not sure about the cathedral itself (though the inside is quite beautiful). But the statuary that can be found all around is breathtaking. There were 2 weddings taking place while we were there so we got to see both an outdoor reception area and an indoor one. The organ was playing in the main sanctuary and it is a great sound. I would not say that the Crystal Cathedral is the most exciting place that I have ever been, but I am very glad that we took the time to go. It is worth seeing.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

The next day, we drove down to the town of San Juan Capistrano. I have been to 4 or 5 Spanish missions, both in Texas and California. The Mission at San Juan Capistrano is by far the most beautiful one I have been to (even more beautiful than the Alamo). We spent about 3 hours walking around the mission. It cost $9 to get in, but I think it is money well spent. This was truly one of the highlights of our trip to the Los Angeles area.

Laguna Beach

Of course, the beaches in Orange County are also quite spectacular. Particularly Dana Point and Laguna Beach. We went down to the beach in front of the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach. We stayed there to watch the sunset. Is there anything better than watching the sun set on the beach? I am not sure.

A lot of people write off Los Angeles. I think that is a mistake. Every time I go, I enjoy myself. There is so much to see and do in and around LA. Don’t let anyone talk you out of going. I could easily live in LA. Maybe some day I will.

To see pictures from LA, click here and here.