Los Angeles/USA: Los Angeles is a city you have to learn to love, in my opinion. A lot of people that are fascinated by the entertainment business, have an instant attraction to the glamorous life of LA. But to many, me included, the first meeting with Los Angeles can be disappointing.
The enormous city just felt to big. The endless hours you have to drive around to go places in LA did not appeal to me the first time I was there, eight years ago.
But I just knew I had to give the city a second chance. So I did. I now I love, love, love LA.
I love the crazy people walking up and down the Walk of fame, the famous street with the stars in the pavement.
I love the fact that it is almost always sunny in the movie city and that you can go to a roof top pool bar and chill, whenever.
I love that you can escape the glitter and glam in Hollywood and have a totally different experience of the same city just a short drive away. We did some days in Venice beach, where you have a fantastic shopping in Abbot Kinney, but you also encounter a lot of special characters on the touristic beach stroll and see more of the realities of the cities.
Because this vast city is much more than the Hollywood glam. Last time I was there I thought the typical LA glamour was too much, and I got really fed up with all the traffic.
This time I had time to see more of the city, and really got to see how you can enjoy LA to the fullest.
Click on the photos to enter the gallery.
The Hollywood sign! First time I saw it, I felt it was small. And far away. But this is the picture every tourist takes in LA.
You have a good view of the sign from The Hollywood & Highland Center.
This is the shopping mall on the famous street: Walk of fame.
The street is a tourist craze.
Where a lot of people dress up like film characters, and charge tourists to take their photos.
The Chinese theater is one of the main sights on Walk of fame. A famous cinema that hosts a lot of big movie premieres.
But the most famous sights on the street are the stars.
And people go there to take selfies.
We stayed at really nice hotel in Melrose avenue, West Hollywood. (I will write more about the many cool LA hotels later).
Melrose avenue is a street worth visiting, with a lot of funny stores.
And unique shopping.
For more leisure we went to a hotel pool to chill out.
Or a pool party at night.
To enjoy the LA view. What´s not to love!
When in LA you have to go to some bars at the famous Sunset strip in Hollywood.
And you have to have breakfast at an American diner.
A new LA trend is serving drinks in old jars instead of cups. I kind of liked that 🙂
After the Hoolywood glam we headed out to Venice Beach.
And hang out at the beach.
The beach stroll has a lot of different characters literally hanging around.
And walking along the beach…
There is also nice local shopping.
And marihuana shopping…
From Venice you can easily rent a bike and ride it up to more posh Santa Monica or down to Hermosa beach.
It is a beautiful ride!
There has been written a lot of songs about the Californian sunsets.
And witnessing one, you understand why.
Spend a night in Abbot Kinney, the new cool Venice street with a lot of nice restaurants and bars.
The street has become a trendy shopping area the last few years.
And there is a lot of special stores and cafes.
Where you can get all kinds of organic foods.
They even have their own organic garden.
The walk from the beach to Abbot Kinney is also interesting, with a lot of wall paintings.
Door paintings.
And some special houses.
Have a drink at sunset.
And be aware of all the paintings on the ground. If so you might just stumble upon that LA love.
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