Los Angeles

We arrived to Los Angeles September 8, 2014, from New York.
We flew with the airline "JetBlue Airways".
The flight was OK and after 5 hours we were in California.
Here we start our 17-day trip across the US Southwest in the car.
And then, we'll fly to Boston on September 25, 2014.

From the airport, we went to the office of car rental "Alamo" by shuttle.
We took the car Nissan Rogue which became our best friend.
*Alamo*

According to our plan, we planned to take place in Los Angeles one and a half day.
Well, I do not know a lot of it or not, it depends on what you want to see.
We wanted to see the magical inscription "Hollywood" on the mountain, "Avenue of the Stars" - Hollywood Blvd., Beverly Hills, and of course the ocean.
Such large parks as the "Universal Studios Hollywood" and "Disneyland" were not included in our plan.

You need more time if you are with children or you fond of attractions.

We had gone to the motel, putting the bags in the trunk.
It was very hot, We wanted to take a shower and relax...
We're in Los Angeles!
*Los Angeles*

As a trucker, I was aware of the heavy traffic on the roads of Los Angeles.
Plus, aggressive driving of some guys...
So, movement on the streets is not an easy task.

Therefore, to save time I had booked a "Coral Sands Motel", located not very far from the "Avenue of Stars".
*Coral Sands Motel*
GPS-coordinates: 34°06'10.1"N, 118°18'33.0"W

In the evening, we strolled around the motel, bought a favorite beer Budweiser and came back to the motel in the dark .
In the west of the United States , it was dark at 7 pm in September.

The sun had woke us up the next morning.
After the coffee, we decided to look the famous inscription "Hollywood", on the mountain.

It is located in the Hollywood Hills and the tourists looking for the best place for photos.
*Hollywood Hills*

Our favorite sun is not soft always...
The first green grass appears in the hills of California in early February, but it's the straw in March already...
So I admire people who have transformed this land into a green garden.

But my wife was surprised by something else...
We met a lot of runners who trained under the scorching sun.
All guys were slender, polite and were open to dialogue.
People of all ages: young girls and boys, those who are over ... and seniors.
"And where the Americans with obese?" - was her question.
Well, what should I say?
In our trips we had met a lot of people who love a sport, hiking, running and active lifestyle.
Well, overweight people?
Yes, we saw such people, but so few.

Griffith Observatory is located on one of the hills.
*Griffith Observatory*
GPS-coordinates: 34°07'14.8"N, 118°18'01.9"W

The observatory was built in 1935.
This is a very popular place among tourists.
*Griffith Observatory*

You can see the city from here and the sign "Hollywood".
*Hollywood Sign*
*Hollywood Sign Wiki*

In the hot haze - Los Angeles.
And behind the city - Pacific Ocean!

А за городом - Тихий океан.

There are two beautiful scenic roads near Observatory
Mulholland Dr.and Lake Hollywood Dr.
We had made photo of the sign "Hollywood" on one road...

And a photo of a beautiful Hollywood Lake on the other road.

It was very hot on the hills and we drove by car to the center - Hollywood Blvd.
Along the way, we passed through the city - Beverly Hills.
*Beverly Hills*

Beverly Hills is home to many celebrities - famous film directors, actors, musicians, etc.
Yes, beautiful houses, tall palm trees, a lot of shopping centers and shops there are here.
But we did not notice anything interesting for us here.
Therefore, without stopping, we drove to Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood Blvd. took it name in 1910, when small towns were combined into a large center - Los Angeles.
This is a place that attracts tourists from around the world.
Of course, it's not Broadway in New York City, but you can take a stroll along the boulevard and see a lot of interesting.
*Hollywood Boulevard*

Small restaurants and souvenir shops with a magical sign "Hollywood" attract tourists.

You can take a tourist bus.

And even to visit theaters.

So, you walk along the boulevard and suddenly you can see the stars under feet, pressed into granite.
This part of the boulevard called "Walk of Fame" or "Avenue of Stars" and was built in 1959.
*Hollywood Walk of Fame*

There are more than 2500 stars here.
Each star - or a person or group, or a character from the world of entertainment and art, which has made an enormous contribution to their development.
Real or fictional characters. Those who have lived and live.
Some stars are empty, they are waiting for their hero.

Yes, we liked here but we wanted a fresh breeze and salt sprays...
We had drove by car to the ocean, to the beach of Santa Monica.
The trees, the bushes and the grass became greener, near the ocean.
*Santa Monica Beach*

Hello, the Pacific Ocean!

We are here...
The ocean seems so different, but always beautiful and unique!
How can we forget this beauty?
You can make photos of the ocean many times and each picture will be special.

My wife loves the sea, the ocean and she likes to swim.
Therefore when I was planning a plan of trip, she asked:
"How about the Ocean and the swimming"?
And only after a positive response - the plan was approved.

Of course, the Ocean amazed us...
But the beaches...
There are many beaches in the Los Angeles area.
Some beaches are paid, some free
Tourists come to Santa Monica Beach, to Venice Beach and to Manhattan Beach.

But all the beaches are very "empty" in our understanding.
Visitors on the beaches were not enough, almost no one was sunbathing and no one was swimming
We understood, that Americans prefer more the State of Florida and the Atlantic Ocean.

Here, the water is cold +21 degrees Celsius and a strong wave that carries the muddy sand.
Locals walk along the beach and are engaged in surfing.
Some people are swimming very peculiar, namely in a T-shirt, and shorts for street.

We went to the pier after a walk along the beach.
*Santa Monica Pier*

The sun was setting, lighting up the beach of Santa Monica.

Tourists waited on the pier a stunning sunset.

Goodnight, the Sun!

We drive to the hotel to rest, because tomorrow morning we start our trip along the coast to San Diego.