Los Angeles in general

On my recent round the world trip LA was my first destination, I have always wanted to go to LA and walk down the star studded Hollywood Walk of Fame and this was my perfect opportunity! I spent a week in LA although I would say that is probably too long, you only really need a few days to see the main attractions and it is a good place to visit as part of a road trip in the USA, maybe adding a stop or two in Vegas or San Francisco as well. Being on budget I opted to stay in hostel just off the Hollywood Boulevard but accommodation is available for all budgets. I was told that unless you have ... more

LOS ANGELES This op is more of an account of the areas of LA that I visited during my recent holiday there. I also spent the consecutive week in San Francisco but that will have to be another op! ~ GENERAL INFO As you may, may not be aware Los Angeles (“City of Angels”) is America’s second (to New York) largest city with a population of around 16 million people. Hence why my 1-week visit only covered a small part of this huge urban sprawl. The ethnic make-up of LA is primarily Caucasians and Mexicans; Mexico is only a 5-hour drive away. However, there are also areas for many other racial ... more

The first time I flew into L.A (as the plane was coming into land and was low over houses), I saw a guy being thrown on the bonnet of a police car (or five o as I started to call them after living there). Walking out of the airport there was a big police raid on hawkers outside so my immediate impression of the place is man, this is wild and I instantly wanted to live there! Anyway, I have family there (my sister was lapdancing at The Bodyshop on Sunset Blvd and my uncle has been there since '65) so I stayed up in Echo Park (which is an absolutely beautiful part of the city up in the hills ... more

Do you live in San Jose? No? Have you ever put a hundred down and bought a car? You have? Then in a week or two they'll make you a star in this city of angels you know. It's actually true that in every parking lot and McDonalds in LA you'll find an out of work actor. And that's the thing with Los Angeles - it does match up to the stereotypes people have of it. However there is so much more to this vibrant sprawl of suburbia. Los Angeles doesn't have a city centre. The first time I landed there, I had this wonderfully quaint British idea to hunt down a 'high street'. There are about five ... more

Let me tell you now - this is a very jaundiced view of LA. I totally admit that in the two days we were there, we didn't have nearly enough time to visit the city's sights and get a fully rounded view of the city of angels. But what we saw was enough to make sure we'll avoid visiting there again...next time we'll fly into San Francisco, San Diego, or straight into Vegas! The eleven hour flight to LA passed....eventually...in the same way you know grief will pass. Luckily, due to my sister's fear of flying, we were upgraded to business class. We needed it. If you can afford to fly business, or ... more