The flight from Istanbul to Los Angeles lasted 12 hours, which passed pleasantly as the screen in front of each seat had hundreds of movies and games to pass the time. Arriving at our destination, a vast metropolis, consisting of smaller cities united, with a total population of nearly 13 million inhabitants, spread out before us. Endless highways, low houses and about 20 skyscrapers in the center (Downtown). Around and in between, lush green hills that reach the ocean. As dusk fell, the colors gave another interest to the City of Angels and the millions of lights, slowly turning on, looked from above like Christmas tree lights.
LAX airport is vast… We taxied for almost 25 minutes from landing time to the gate. After passport control and bag collection, car rental company buses were waiting to take us to their company headquarters. “Baby it's cold outside” was playing on the speakers in the velvety voice of Ella Fitzgerald (it was Christmas Eve), but it didn't match the LA weather as the temperature was just right for a spring jacket. So, we picked up the car and headed to the house we had booked in Hollywood. Maps and GPS apps were loaded on our phones, so everything was very easy. At the first intersection, we spotted the first difference compared to driving in Europe. The traffic lights are on the opposite side of the road! The house was beautiful and well-kept, with an interior courtyard that reminded us of all those Californian houses we see in Hollywood movies. Tiredness was starting to set in, so after buying some supplies for breakfast, we went to bed.
1or day
We went to sleep wondering how jet lag would affect us, but in the end the only effect was that we woke up a little earlier than we would on a workday. It was Christmas and as we knew most attractions were closed, we had booked tickets for the theme park of Universal Studios! The distance from downtown Hollywood is only 10 minutes in an area called Universal City. Universal Studios is one of the oldest film studios (started in 1915), which is still in operation. From the parking lot to the entrance of the studios extends the City Walk with shops and restaurants. Everything was neat and clean with the appropriate Christmas decoration of course. We passed them and headed towards the main entrance where we got the map of the park with the activities and shows that take place there.
First stop is "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter"where the village of Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts castle are located. The tour of the castle passed through the paintings that talk to each other, through the room where the apprentice wizards have lessons, Professor Dumbledore's office, etc. At the end of it we climbed into an armchair where we "tied ourselves" so as not to fall (?!) the lights went out and... suddenly in a 5D setting we followed Harry Potter, who was flying on his broomstick between dragons, castles, bridges and villages! It is truly an incredible experience that takes your breath away!
Follow the Studio Tour. We boarded an open bus that toured the facilities. There you can see movie sets, such as Jurassic Park, the Bates Motel where “Psycho” was filmed, the wreckage of the Boeing 747 from “War of the Worlds”, the Courthouse square from “Back to the Future”, Amity Island from “Jaws”, artificial scenery that simulated earthquakes, rain, floods and much more… The tour continued through the “Fast and Furious” garage where the bus followed us in a “frenzied” chase, with jolts, spins, special effects, smoke and 3D animation that make you feel like you are in a “made” supercar. The most impressive show, however, was “King Kong 360 3D”, where, according to Universal executives, two of the largest curved screens in the world place you in the “heart” of a duel between King Kong and a tyrannosaurus in a setting taken from the film of the same name!
The ride at Universal Studios also included a live performance, inspired by the film. Waterworld, where we enjoyed a 20 minute show with fast jet skis, explosions, fires, smoke, acrobatics and the fall of a seaplane a few meters from the spectators!!
Full of surprises and adrenaline, it is also a ride in Jurassic Park, where dinosaurs and other reptiles appear along the raft's course through the river, while at the end a giant tyrannosaurus appears out of nowhere, before the raft enters a 26-meter-high slide!
Tip: One day is probably not enough to see all the shows. That's why before you go it's a good idea to read what each one has to offer, so you can choose which ones you want to see or not. The ticket price is around 100 dollars depending on the day of the week and believe us…they are worth every last cent! After the entrance you will not have to pay again to see a show, except for food and souvenirs. Because after so many hours there you will definitely get hungry, we recommend beef roast at Three Broomsticks or waffle burger at Krusty Burger.
Leaving Universal Studios and with the joy of a small child painted on our faces, we headed to the Mecca of cinema, Hollywood and the famous Walk of Fame. Along Hollywood Boulevard, approximately 2500 stars are embedded in the sidewalks, with names of actors, producers, musicians, directors, and comic book characters, etc. There are also the Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are awarded every year, and the Grauman's Chinese Theater, which opened in 1922 and has hosted most film premieres. In the area outside the Chinese Theater, many stars have left their footprints. The area is very touristy and full of souvenir shops. A walk, however, is definitely worth it.
Hollywood nightlife extends to the so-called Sunset Strip, part of Sunset Boulevard. Most clubs require reservations and have a dress code. Apart from that, Sunset Boulevard is not particularly attractive, as a fairly extensive building redevelopment is underway, which has transformed the area into a construction site.
2or day
Our childhoods have been marked by the most watched youth series on television, Beverly Hills 90210 (Heartbeat in Beverly Hills, but in Greek) so we couldn't help but visit this area! It extends north of Santa Monica Boulevard and, together with neighboring Bel Air, gathers most of the mansions of the stars. The architecture of the houses, the lush gardens and the expensive sports cars confirm the fact that this is an expensive neighborhood, which wins you over with its spotless streets and towering palm trees. We headed to the famous Rodeo Drive and then to Via Rodeo, where all the famous fashion houses were hosted in ultra-luxury stores. We were particularly impressed by the municipal lighting with the chandeliers and the base in the shape of a…gift. At the end of Rodeo Drive, the impressive Beverly Wilshire Hotel, also known from the movie Pretty Woman.
After window shopping we stopped for coffee and breakfast at the excellent Alfred Coffee where we tried café au lait, omelet burrito and chocolate croissant. All delicious and well presented!
Next stop is Getty Center. A multi-art space designed by the famous architect Richard Meier, built on one of the hills of Santa Monica. Within a vast area of gardens and rationalist buildings, the visitor can admire paintings by Van Gogh, Manet, Carravagio, Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Tiziano, sculptures from ancient Greece and ancient Rome, medieval and later furniture from various countries, antiques and antiquities of great value. This museum was created from the bequest of Jean Paul Getty, a Croat who was an avid collector of antiquities and works of art.
The museum, in addition to the exhibits that Getty himself or the museum's management acquired (often through unfair means), houses collections from other donors and collectors, making it one of the most important museums in America. From there, you can admire the view of metropolitan Los Angeles, the ocean and the surrounding hills. The museum's restaurant with a view of the city and an excellent menu is particularly noteworthy, as are the cafes on the roof. A walk through the museum's gardens with 2000 species of plants, small artificial ponds and stone streams is also a must. No matter how much time you spend in the museum and the gardens, you will realize what Americans call "quality time".
The time was starting to pass and we had to leave, driving east to catch the sunset at the Griffith Observatory. (Griffith Observatory). Those of you who have seen “La La Land” will surely remember the scenes that were filmed there. The observatory is one of the most popular attractions in Los Angeles with a truly privileged view! On one side, the iconic Hollywood sign with its white letters, on the other, Los Angeles and the ocean. The low cloud cover did not allow us to see the sun setting over the Pacific. However, as soon as the city lights came on, the spectacle was amazing! We were truly stunned looking at the vastness of LA
The observatory contains various astronomical instruments and information on issues such as the movement of the earth, the phases of the moon, the tides, and a huge Foucault pendulum that has dominated the observatory since 1935, when it opened its doors. There are also two telescopes that operate at specific times for observing the planets, while in specially designed rooms one can observe topics related to the environment, natural phenomena, etc.
The day ended with a walk in the shopping mall. Hollywood and Highland and which is inspired by the silent film “Intolarance”, filmed in 1916 and referring to the fall of Babylon. The architect of the commercial created an arch on the same scale as the one depicted in the film, to show how gigantic the sets were at that time. After a stroll through the shops, try lasagna and linguine at the Italian restaurant “Trastevere”If you want something sweet for dessert, try “Street Churros"a few meters below."
3or day
We chose to go for breakfast at the nearby shopping mall.”The Groove". Next to it is also the Farmers Market (since 1934) a type of popular, restaurants with cuisine from the various immigrant nationalities of Los Angeles. We headed to Dominique Ansel Bakery, where we tried amazing cronuts (a croissant-donut mix) in various flavors, kouign-amann and blossoming hot chocolate. It wasn't just the flavors that impressed us, but also the packaging! It was like buying something precious!
With our palates satisfied, we headed to downtown LA and the California Science CenterIt is located in an area with various buildings connected to which one can see US warplanes, single-engine aircraft of the era, the capsule that carried the first chimpanzee into space, aquariums and simulations of ecosystems on a scale, such as a river, a desert, the Earth's poles, the ocean, etc. However, the purpose of our visit was to see the space shuttle up close. Endeavour! This is the last space shuttle that operated from 1992 to 2011 with 25 successful missions. Together with the main fuel tank, located in an adjacent area, they are 2 exhibits that are difficult to find elsewhere and are truly worth seeing!
After touring the “world” of space and the achievements of technology, a stroll through the gardens of the California Science Center is a must. The “rose garden” (rose garden) is an urban oasis where both tourists and LA residents enjoy their walks. It is also home to the Natural History Museum as well as the LA Memorial Coliseum, which hosted the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games.
Our next stop is downtown Los Angeles, known to Angelanos as Downtown. Here the scene changes completely from the rest of the area. Some twenty glass skyscrapers give the impression that you have suddenly been transported to the center of New York! Within this chaotic scene, a small area called The Town, still retains the old buildings from 1781, when a few Mexicans founded a village in the name of the Spanish crown. Walking down the street Olvera One can see the architecture of that era, the Avila Adobe, the Fire Department building from 1884, as well as the Pico house, the first luxury hotel built in 1870. The area is certainly quite touristy, but it gives you a glimpse of another era.
And since it was getting close to noon, to satisfy our hunger we consulted Tripadvisor. It is truly incredible where and how you can discover these so-called “hidden gems” that make your day. On a narrow street, then, a shop that would not even catch your eye “The little jewel of New Orleans” proved to be a real gem. With wrap ups and cuisine influenced by the rich culinary traditions of the city of New Orleans, we tasted authentic flavors that thrilled us!
With our batteries fully charged, we set off on a long walk through Downtown. First stop was the train station. Union Station, with its beautiful neo-colonial architecture, which we have seen in many films. Also prominent throughout the area is the city hall, also known from the Superman films.
We continued our walk towards the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, a modern structure that resembles more than just a church and was completed in 2002. Its minimal, imposing interior can accommodate over 3,000 worshippers. Turning onto N. Grand Avenue, we encountered an imposing Ahmanson Theatre and the postmodern Walt Disney Concert Hall, the new home of the Philharmonic Orchestra, which stands out for its curved, shiny surfaces that reflect the hot Californian sun. Immediately behind it stands another modern building, the “The Broad”, one of the most popular contemporary art museums in the world. Its honeycomb shape predisposes you to a similarly impressive interior, with over 2000 exhibits of post-war contemporary art. Admission is free, but to visit it, you must have made a reservation through internet.
Among the glass skyscrapers of Downtown and the expensive hotels, we discovered the “The Rooftop bar & restaurant” on the twentieth floor of “The Standard” hotel. As the colors of the sunset shimmered on the glass surfaces of the buildings, we enjoyed one of the best cocktails of our lives, until dusk fell and the thousands of lights on the glass giants were turned on.
As we were driving home, we returned to the mall again.The Groove"which we had visited in the morning, as the thousands of lights we had seen turned off, piqued our curiosity for an evening visit! After all, we were in the holiday season, although with spring temperatures...
(See our trip preparation here)
The continuation of the roadtip here…
