So this past weekend I took a weekend trip to LA to visit my friend who I had made when I was 15 in Acapulco, Mexico. Our families have been friends and it was nice to be able to see her and hang out in LA. I left Orange around 8 p.m on Friday after work and packing, then got to Brentwood, CA where she has an apartment with her two roommates. After getting settled in and meeting her roommates, we decided to go to a local sports bar called Q's and got a couple of drinks then departed for "home."
Exploring L.A
We had tons of plans for my first full day in L.A and it all started with going out to breakfast. We went to this famous deli that was been around for 64 years called Nat' n Al's, which is located in Beverly Hills. Over the years Nat' n Al's has become a Hollywood hangout where directors, producers, and writers come to get some food. Larry King can be spotted there almost every Saturday. I had their famous baked salmon with scrambled eggs with a side of Lox and a bagel.
After breakfast we departed where my adventurers were about to begin. First stop was at The Witches House which is a storybook house in Beverly Hills, California. It is known for its fanciful design that intentionally causes it to look dilapidated and old, and is a landmark that is included on tours of the area.
Next stop of the days adventure was the J. Paul Getty Museum which is located in the hills of Los Angeles. The really neat thing about the Getty Museum is that it is located in the hills, so in order to get to it you have to take a tram up the hill to the top to the museum. The ride was very nice and had great views of all the homes on the hills and such. The Getty houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs. What I found to be interesting was being able to recognize all the Italian art that I has learned about when I studied abroad in Rome last summer. In addition at the museum were these beautiful gardens and had an breathtaking view of L.A from the top of the hill where the museum sat.
To top the day off we went to Encino, CA down in the "Valley" to have some sushi at a place called Cho Cho San. This was my first true experience of having sushi, which at the end of the night I really enjoyed it. The challenge was learning to eat the sushi with the chop sticks. After we had dinner at about 10 p.m which for people in L.A is a little later than what I am accustomed to. Then we went to a "Valley" party like they mention in the movie Clueless. A Valley party is quite the experience let me tell you. Lots of interesting people and a different lifestyle completely and the typical L.A city person frowns on upon them and the valley lifestyle.
Beach Day: Sunday
Even though it was an overcast day and the local Californians call it a typical "June Gloom" day in L.A, we decided to take a nice relaxing drive down the Pacific Coast Highway or "PCH" as the locals call it as well. On the way to PCH we drove down the famous Rodeo Road and Santa Monica Boulevard (which is mentioned in Sheryl Crows song "All I Wanna Do."). We took the PCH all the way to Malibu and saw all the surfers catching some waves and people just enjoying a day at the beaches. Once in Malibu we went to have breakfast on the beach at a restaurant called Paradise Cove. This was my first time truly having breakfast on the beach and it was awesome. The food was great I had a breakfast smoothie and Macadamia Coconut Pancakes with Coconut whipped cream and Macadamia nut butter. When in Rome I mean Malibu, order something you can't normally find.
After an amazing morning of driving along the PCH and breakfast at Paradise Cove we departed to head to Venice beach! Venice beach wow what can I say? There was so many things going on from freak shows, street musicians, street artists, famous muscle beach, interesting people, skateboarders, and of course great food places. At Venice is where they filmed a scene from the movie "I Love You Man," so it was cool to witness where it was shot and relive it. Fighting through the crowded walkways we made our way to Santa Monica Pier and Boardwalk. Approaching the Santa Monica Pier reminded me of Jersey Shore boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. The Santa Monica boardwalk has a Ferris wheel, rides, restaurants, and shops. After this I headed back to Brentwood to pack and head back home to Orange. Man what an action packed weekend in L.A and I will definitely will be making another visit before the summer is over.
No comments:
Post a Comment