Over the past days I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve visited and experienced many new places around Los Angeles, too many to mention them all. Following are the some main “attractions”. So without further ado…

The Getty Center is place I’ve been wanting to visit for years but never had, or given myself the time to drive up there. Built almost ten years ago for a pile of money it sits on top of not one, but two mountains overlooking Los Angeles. Well, I don’t really agree on the mountain theory, I’d call them hills but the tour guide was very persistent. I’ll let it pass, for now. It’s not the art collection that hits you when you first walk into the center, It’s the architecture. Beautiful, clean, limestone buildings following the axis of either the 405 or LA street grid. I’m too lazy to go into details why. Send me a mail if you are interested, or better yet, go on the architectural tour yourself. The Getty Center is well worth the visit.

Malibu. “Small” summerhouses. Surfers. Fun at the beach. Had a wonderful brunch at Geoffrey’s overlooking the Pacific. The sun was blistering. Like a dream.

The Huntington Library is not only a library but a fantastic botanical garden with samples and themes from all over the world. Walk through the rose garden down to the Japanese garden. Sit down, exhale. Ahhh.. You can walk for hours on this private property. Californian rail mogul, Huntington bought this property at the turn of the last century and landscaped a quite remarkable oasis. The art collection, presented in the main building, did not floor me, but the library is worth visiting.

When visiting Huntington, you drive to Pasadena. I’ve always had the impression that Pasadena was a name on the map, and nothing more. And I was, as often before, very wrong. Old town Pasadena is a good place for a stroll. Nice cafes, restaurants, galleries and shops. Pasadena also has a long motorcycle tradition, which I learned a bit of when buying a vintage biker jacket from the fifties. It’s sooo cool. Vroom, vroom.

Drive down south from Santa Monica, past Marina del Rey and you’ll arrive in Manhattan beach. The beach volleyball capitol of.. Somewhere. The many many nets on the beach proved that there are more than a little interest in running around punching a ball in the air. Also a local ice-cream vendor has one of the best milkshakes in mankind, the real deal. Wonderful.

I’m not sure how many times I’ve visited Santa Monica. Not a few. Probably more than twenty, and over the years I’ve never visited Main Street. Well, that’s not exactly true. I spent an evening at Circle Bar five, six years ago, but I don’t remember much of that evening… Anyways. It’s pretty amazing/pathetic that I, only a four minute drive, or twenty-minute walk from Third Street, have not treaded a street before now. And it’s a shame, because it’s a nice place with bars, cafes, restaurants and shops, really nice shops. Hardly any big retail chains, but lots of small boutique stores. Needless to say, I walked away with a few bags.

I must mention Urth Café, the ideal place for tasty, fresh, healthy food. I will return, and return.

I’m very glad I’ve learned a bit more about this enormous city. Every time I find something new, but this visit has been a leap into the pool that is Los Angeles.