One of the best places to visit in Los Angeles is The Griffith Observatory. Not only does it have the best views of the city and the surrounding mountains (and the Pacific Ocean on a very clear day like this day), but it also houses important telescopes, a planetarium, and astronomy exhibits to indulge the science nerd in me.
It was also free, though be warned the parking lot is small and this is a very popular place to visit. We were smart by getting there early. I loved wandering around this spot. The rooftop also had access to see one of the telescopes, which is what I was secretly hoping for (I told you, there is a science nerd deep inside me). Downstairs, you can view displays on each planet, experience a camera obscura, and stand on a scale to see how much you would weigh on each planet. I think most of us liked that on Pluto, we weighed something like 4 pounds.
We even had lunch here, in the cafe on a lower level, with views. I had some tasty butternut squash soup. But really, the height and the views is what makes this place special, and also very important for science. The clear, dry air gives the telescopes the best views deep into space. Oh yea, and you get a clear view of the Hollywood sign.
After a very busy week of being on the West coast, then travelling across the country, getting back, and going back into work, all I wanted this weekend was to be at home enjoying the comforts of being in my cosy place. So on Sunday, that is precisely what I did.
Last night the air was growing chilled as some light rain started before I went to bed. It was set to rain a steady, light drizzle all night. With my a/c off I went to bed and could hear the soft drips of the Autumn rain. I smiled to myself because it made me think of my first visit to England when I stayed on the farm and slept in the second floor craft room. The window was always open and the desk sat underneath the window, cluttered with sewing machine, buttons, threads, and pins. On one of the first nights it rained, the same gentle Autumn rain, and with the window open I could hear it and smell the freshness of the rain out to the little garden below. It was quintessential England.
It was comforting, for some reason. Something about being cosy and warm under a blanket in a cluttered craft room in a farm house in a tiny town south of London gave me the strangest sense of being home, while I was actually very far from home and still unfamiliar with the country. And yet...
I knew then, on that rainy night in Tonbridge, that England and I had a deep bond. I had this feeling that I would not be able to shake the charm it had on me. And I have not been able to since then (more than five years ago), nor would I try. I won't prate on and on about my love for England, but I could.
So, this morning when I woke up and the final drizzles were dripping off the roof, I delighted that the sky was a bright grey that enveloped the entire horizon. I loved that the air was chilly and I needed a sweater. I brewed delicious coffee I bought in Santa Monica, donned a cosy grey sweater with patches on the elbows, ate a sweet Macintosh apple, and proceeded to read all morning.
Translucent skies
clear a bright
lean into the valley
all day and night.
Coffee, endless cups,
scenes dry, not scant,
delicate views from mountains,
where cars look like ants.
Buildings upon hills of dirt,
tightly packed, and varied,
no consistency observed,
if history and culture married.
Sunshine and palm trees
make up the nature
along every street,
they lean, tall and thin against
the melted blue sky
In downtown Los Angeles I had a mission to visit this bookstore. It was really the sole purpose of going downtown. Can you see why?
Now I had heard the traffic getting into downtown was usually pretty miserable, and since we were staying in the valley, we weren't exactly around the corner, but we didn't have it so bad and the store was easy to find.
The Last Bookstore is in an old bank, so it has the grand, tall ceilings and columns and it possesses the general feeling of splendor. The vaults of the bank are still there except that they now hold a different kind of treasure -- books! I made sure to peruse the vault downstairs which held the old hardback books.
In addition, there were countless artistic elements that were so much fun, like the book tunnel and the book window. Or the colour coordinated bookshelves. I love the quirky, unique bookstores that have character like this one. Not to mention the fun selection of new and used books throughout the first floor and second floor. The second floor also had a big back room with thousands of books for $1 each. That is where the colour coordinated shelves are, and where I found a few more books to add to my little stack of purchases.
The Getty is an amazing place. It's a huge art museum on top of a mountain overlooking L.A. The fun begins when you park in an underground garage, and then get into a shuttle/tram that climbs the curves around the mountain overlooking Interstate 405 up to The Getty.
One could easily spend a whole day here, and still not see everything. There are several buildings of art and collections of artifacts. For one who isn't particularity fond of spending hours looking at art, there are countless scenic overlook spots, plenty of architecture to admire, and lots of gardens and paths for enjoyable walks. And when you get hungry, there's a delicious cafe that overlooks the Santa Monica Mountains as you eat organic and locally sourced chicken, butternut squash, pasta with beets, and other delights.
My favourite exhibit was the "Chivalry In The Middle Ages", which had a room of manuscripts from the Middle Ages. They are beautiful works of art and stunningly detailed. Any chance to look at old books is a thrill to me, of course.
I have been in L.A. for several days now, and here is what I have learned about Los Angeles thus far.
- The residents don't ever see rain fall. I am here visiting my brother and sister-in-law and they haven't seen rain since the day they moved out here, almost six months ago. Until we arrived, where it rained overnight on our first night.
- Six lanes of traffic are never enough. I am amazed at how there are so many raised freeways in this area, countless freeways (talk about a concrete jungle!), and all of them have six lanes of traffic on each side, and it's still horribly backed up most of the day. The weekend was not nearly as crowded, though, and we did a lot of weekend driving. However, no matter the traffic, driving on the freeway is absolutely crazy. You cannot drive slowly here, or you will get run over. Speed limits are "suggestions". I have been driving a lot around this craziness and it is certainly an experience.
- The best coffee is found in the tiny coffee shops. Not the big name brand companies. On the first day, we found Créme Caramel, a tiny local bakery and coffee shop around the corner from the hotel. I had a delicious salted caramel latte and was served by Minnie Mouse (it was Halloween after all).
- This is the land of succulents and cacti. They are everywhere! I love it. The arid desert climate is a perfect atmosphere for them. Can I bring them home with me?
- Visiting the brother and sister-in law has been a good time. I am glad I brought my mom along for the ride. The new Californians live on the fourteenth floor of a building on Ocean Avenue, looking toward the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. More on our adventures to come.
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