LOS ANGELES, California

Favorite thing: I lived in LA from Christmas of 1991 through Halloween of 1993 just long enough to burn through everything I owned and the only two relationships that ever mattered to me.
A few days before Christmas and the day I stopped smoking, I arrived in Venice Beach from New York City. That night I heard helicopters hovering just above the house on walk-street where we lived, searchlights stuttering through darkness ... A riot, an earthquake and a breakdown followed.

Favorite thing: When I first moved to LA I lived in a small bungalow on a walk street within spitting distance of the Pacific Ocean on Venice Beach ... the wierdest, wildest, wonderfulest beach in California.

Fondest memory: Just go there ... spend an afternoon walking from the Pier in Venice to the Pier in Santa Monica ... Don't carry a lot of things with you - you can pick up whatever you might need ... just shorts and shoes and sun glasses and go ...

You will see a side of humanity that is part classic california beach bum skateboarder, part gang-color outlaw consciousness and part sex cat or kitten (your choice). But Venice is not representative of America or California or any other place. Venice Beach is itself and itself alone.

Favorite thing: In L.A. (the ... 'palmfullest' city i've ever seen) u absolutely must see the following:

1) The wonderful and long, long beaches, where u can find quite anything, from pigeons to roller coasters (i', not kidding, go to Santa Monica Pier if u don't believe me)
2) Beverly Hills is not as magnificient as they describe it. It is strange, however, how they keep their gardens.
3) The Hollywood sign and the walk of fame are not this wonderfull as they put it, but no doubt once in LA a visit there is a must.
4) I liked a lot the Universal Studios (u gotta spend an entire day over there, it's simply A-M-A-Z-I-N-G).
5) I did not like Disneyland, perhaps because it was too crouded, perhaps because of the stressing HOT.
6) Along the seaside, u must go to Venice, a very nice place nut be very VERY carefull 'cause it's dangerous over there. The area teams with thieves and strange people, so there is a costant police patroling (there are policemen with sedans, bikes, offroad cars, and even an helicopter!!!)
7) Go visiting downtown, it dangerous in the night but preatty cool in the morning.

Favorite thing:


Not much time to spend here either and too cold to go on the beach - just a quick tour of the city and back on the road towards Santa Monica.

Notice the setting: me, the trashcan, the lonely palmtree...and the empty beach...but what a blue sky!

Favorite thing:

SANTA MONICA

It is early afternoon and stopped for lunch in this old fashioned house!

Once arrived in Santa Monica it was time to find the hotel which was Holiday Inn and go change the T-Bird car...

Favorite thing:

...of course the MUSTANG had to be tried out right away - so a few hours driving in Santa Monica's surroundings was truly enjoyable in this convertible.

Now the sun is shining...

This picture is about MUSTANGS: the CAR and the HORSES :-) !!

Favorite thing:
LOS ANGELES

What a wonderful feeling to be here in the oh so famous city of *Angels* and Hollywood's Stars!

Just driving along *Santa Monica Boulevard* while listening to Sheryl Crow singing: *...all I wanna do is have some fun...until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard* on the radio!

Santa Monica Town served as base from where we drove around the area and visited Los Angeles twice.

Favorite thing:
LANDMARKS

My short visit included driving and stopping at all major landmarks:



THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN,

THE CHINESE THEATRE,

THE just to mention few !

Favorite thing: Drive. Yes, drive! Almost everywhere one needs the wheels to get around. It's a huge state & lots of traffic jams in the major cities as well. So, plan ahead for meetings & make allowances for the amount of time required to travel to each destination & the number of sites to be visited in a day!

LOS ANGELES (L.A.) is a fun city to be in if you have a car. Drive the kids to Disneyland, Universal Studios or Knotts Berry Farm. As for the adults, especially the ladies, they can go shopping at boutiques in Beverly Hills.

Fondest memory: It was years ago since I've toured the city of Los Angeles. My fondest memory is not of the place but the food! I remembered having one of the best Vietnamese noodle (Pho) here! Wish I could remember the name of the restaurant!

Favorite thing: Visit VT Headquarter in SANTA MONICA. A beautiful city with the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen!

Make time to visit the Getty Museum & UCLA. I'll definitely be back for these 2 institutions.

Fondest memory: Meeting the VT management group for the very first time! A great dinner as well, thanks! :)